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 29
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WILBUR S. YEARSLEY
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charge of the business in Whitman and Garfield counties and also that of Latah and Nez Perce counties, Idaho. Two years later, in 1897, his duties were in- creased by the addition of the business of Yakima, Kittitas. Adams and Franklin counties. Washington, all of which he cleared up in 1899 and turned it over to the Spokane office. For two years thereafter he engaged in the land and loan business on his own responsibility but in 1901 he became associated with D. T. Ham and C. I .. Hoffman and together they organized the Palouse Land Company, which they operated until 1906. In August, 1907, together with David J. Ham, Donald Ryrie and Shirley S. Philbrick he incorporated the company of Ham. Yearsley, Ryrie & Philbrick for the purpose of a general investment business but in 1908 Mr. Phil- brick retired to look after personal business. Since then the firm has been conducted under the name of Ham, Yearsley & Ryric, with D. T. Ham, president; Wilbur S. Yearsley, vice president : K. Murray, secretary ; and D. Ryrie, treasurer. They do 1. general fire, liability and indemnity insurance business and they also handle land, loans and investments and collectively and individually they are financially iden- tified with various local enterprises. Mr. Yearsley has quite extensive interests and at the present time is president of The Inland Empire Paper Company, vice presi- dent of The Liberty Lake Land Company and International Power Company, while he is also president of The Industrial Development Company and The Klickitat Co- lumbia River Irrigation Company. He is one of the enterprising and progressive business men of the city and is meeting with excellent success in his various under- takings.
Political activities have always engaged much of the attention of Mr. Yearsley, although he has never been an ofhee seeker, and his support is given to the demo- cratie party. He was on the democratic electoral ticket of this state during the Palmer and Buckner campaign and while residing in Whitman county he was ehair- man of the democratic central committee. Fraternally he is identified with Thomp- son Lodge. F. & A. M., of eastern Pennsylvania, and his connection with organiza- tions of a more purely social nature is confined to his membership in the Spokane and Inland Clubs of this city. Mr. Yearsley has never married and makes his home at 2017 Mallow street. He is an enthusiastic admirer of the northwest and has unlimited faith in the marvelous possibilities it offers, commercially, industri- ally and agriculturally, owing to its many natural advantages and the spirit of en- ergy that characterizes its citizens. He avails himself of every possible opportu- nity to advance its interests by championing every progressive movement inaugurated in Spokane and giving his cooperation to forwarding the development of the various public utilities.
WILLIAM MULHALL.
William Mulhall, a member of the real-estate firm of Mulhall Brothers, whose offices are located at No. 110 Stevens street, Spokane, was born in Grundy county, Illinois, in 1862, and is a son of James and Ann (O'Leary) Mulhall. The father was a well known farmer and stockman of Illinois until 1890, when he removed to Iowa, and there he passed away in December, 1902.
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The preliminary education of William Mulhall was obtained in the common schools, following which he pursued a course in Bryant & Stratton Business Col- lege at Chicago. After his graduation from this institution he went to lowa, where he began his business career as head of the real-estate department of the Bank of Northwestern Iowa at Alton, that state. He was identified with this concern for three years, and then removed to Roek Valley, Iowa, where he was associated with others in the organization of the Farmers' Bank of Rock Valley, of which his brother John was president and he was eashier. This became one of the well es- tablished and flourishing banking institutions of the county, and Mr. Mulhall was identified with it during the succeeding fifteen years. At the expiration of that period he disposed of his interest and resigning his position went to Sioux City and once more engaged in the real-estate business. He continued in this line at that point for three years, and at the end of that time. in 1902, he came to Spokane. and has ever since made this eity his home. During the first nine years of his resi- denee here, Mr. Mulhall devoted the greater part of his attention to the develop- ment of his fine stock ranch. on Camas prairie, Idaho, in the vicinity of Grangeville. He has two thousand aeres of land there and is breeding and raising thoroughbred horses, eattle and hogs. On the 1st of Angust, 1911, Mr. Mulhall together with his sons. Emmet and Earl, organized the real-estate firm of Mulhall Brothers, and they are making a specialty of Camas prairie lands and farm loans. Although they have only been engaged in business for a few months, their prospects are prom- ising and they have already put through several important deals.
In September, 1888, Mr. Mulhall was united in marriage to Miss Ida Pardon, a daughter of John Pardon of Andover, New York, and to them have been born four children : Emmet L., who was born in 1889: Earl A., whose birth oeeurred in 1890; Agnes MI., born in 1895; and William P., Jr., who was born in 1902. The family home is located at No. 1200 Grand boulevard, this city. where they have a very comfortable and attractive residenee. Fraternally Mr. Mulhall is identified with the Knights of Columbus.
LINNEUS LINCOLN WESTFALL.
While engaged in the general practice of law at Spokane Linneus Lincoln West- fall has specialized to some extent in patent litigation, and in this connection has secured a large clientele. He was born in Macomb. Illinois, April 5, 1865. His aneestry is traeed back to one of the old New York families whose establishment in America antedates the Revolution, in which representatives of the name took part. The family came originally from Westphalia, now a part of Germany, and the surname was originally spelled Westphal, but was changed to conform to the English spelling. His father. Dr. Beverly R. Westfall, was born in Troy, New York, and died in Spokane. August 3, 1889. He devoted his life to the profession of medicine and enjoyed a large practice. He came to Spokane in 1883 and during his residence here served as councilman from the fourth ward. With remarkable foresight he recognized the possibilities for the building of a large city here and while a member of the council offered a resolution to buy the water power for two hundred thousand dollars, which would have ineluded all of the holdings of the
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present Washington Water Power Company. His resolution was defeated, how- ever, because other members of the council contended that it would bankrupt the city. Soon after his arrival Dr. Westfall purchased property on North Monroe street and he said that if Spokane would purchase the water power a city would be developed that would reach from the hill on the south to Little Baldy on the north. Had his plan been carried out Spokane would have been richer by many millions of dollars, but unfortunately he could not convince his colleagues in the council that his ideas were of practical value. During the Civil war he organized a company in Illinois for service at the front and was chosen its captain, but on ac- count of the serious illness of one of his sons he had to resign and did not go to the front. He married Ellen E. Hays, who was born in Kentucky and died in IHli- nois in 1883. She was of Irish descent although the family was planted on Ameri- can soil prior to the Revolutionary war. In the family were tive sons and two daugh- ters: Frank C' .. a farmer at Twin Falls, Idaho; Ralph B., a farmer at Prosser, Wash- ington ; Leland D., a nurseryman of Portland, Oregon: Linneus L., of this review : Hugh IL .. proprietor of a cafe in Denver, Colorado; Sarah S .. the wife of Dr. F. M. Martin, of Maryville. Missouri: and Myra. the wife of William Hayes, of Los Angeles, California.
In the common schools Linneus Lincoln Westfall began his education and after- ward attended the Illinois Normal School and Business College at Macomb. He pursned the study of law in the office and under the direction of C. F. Wheat. of that city, teaching school a portion of the time as he preferred earning his own way. and was admitted to the bar in Illinois in August. 1887. In February, 1888, he left the middle west and came to Spokane and on the 12th of that month opened an office on Monroe street near the courthouse on the north side. In the great fire of 1889 all of the law offices save his were destroyed. He remained at his original location until 1890 when he removed to the south side and occupied an office in the center of the city. In the meantime he did a great amount of office work and record search- ing until after the street car system was installed and he removed his place of busi- ness to the south side of the river. He has always practiced alone and while he continues to engage in general practice he has to some extent specialized in patent litigation. He has also given considerable attention to real-estate law and titles, representing a number of corporations, and is owner of an interest in the Guaranty Title Company. His work is largely along technical lines for real-estate and patent litigation turn more to the scientific and technical sides of law practice. He greatly enjoys this phase of the profession. Mr. Westfall is a member of a society the members of which investigate. study and keep in touch with the latest development of psychic nature. the laws suggested thereby and their application to physical and mental healing, deriving conclusions from actual experimental work in connection with the hypothesis laid down by Hudson and other scientific writers.
During the early days before Spokane had a paid fire department Mr. Westfall was president of the Washington Volunteer Hose Company No. 3, and was this serving at the time of the great conflagration of 1889. The company had only three hand hose carts at that time and were working with a part of the hose when a mim- ber of men came along and took off the balance of the hose and their cart and they never saw them again. The men of the company realized that they were working at a hopeless task as very little water was obtainable, but still they kept on fighting the fire until the end. unwilling to admit defeat. The fire could have easily been
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put out by one of the chemical engines now owned by the city. The townsmen had no idea of the danger before them until they saw the blaze j mp to the dome of the Pacific Hotel and when that was ignited it seemed as though a current of air sprung up that was on a line from the original fire to the dome of the hotel and then drew the flames down to the business section. Mr. Westfall retained his membership with the company until a paid fire department was established.
Hle holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World and in the latter has filled all of the chairs and was twice in- terstate delegate, serving in the convention which was held in Colorado in 1903 and again at Los Angeles in 1905. He belongs also to the Inland Club and to the Cham- ber of Commerce and at one time was a director of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation. In his political views Mr. Westfall is a republican, actively interested in the party and its success. and has frequently been a delegate to the city and county conventions. He has also served on both city and county committees and has fre- quently delivered campaign addresses in behalf of his party.
On the 2d of October, 1890, in Spokane, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Westfall and Miss Adelaide Miekel, a daughter of Judge P. D. Mickel, a prominent attorney of Spokane and at one time attorney for the city of Spokane, but now de- ceased. He came to this city in 1886 and was a representative of an old New York family of German deseent. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Westfall have been born two chil- dren, Elbert L. and Ethel B. The fan. ly attend the Presbyterian church, of which they are members. Thoroughness has always characterized him in every relation of life, enabling him in his school days to lay a good foundation for his future suc- cess. In his preparation for the bar he studied diligently and mastered the great basie principles of jurisprudence. The same quality has characterized him in all of his professional service, making him one of Spokane's able and successful law- vers, particularly prominent in the field of his special lines.
DAVID BEMISS.
Along with the rapid development of Washington in a material way, through the utilization of its natural resources and the establishment and conduct of im- portant business enterprises, there came an equal desire for advancement in educa- tional lines. The state was largely settled by an intelligent, progressive and enter- prising class of citizens from the east who recognized the value of intellectual training and called to the schools of the state men of marked capability and efficiency in educational work. Among this number was David Bemiss, who for ten years was superintendent of the Spokane schools, which he largely raised to the high standard of excellence now maintained.
He was a native of Ontario, Canada, born January 3, 1840. and his parents were Orrin and Phebe (Crawford) Bemiss, natives of New York. The father was a farmer by occupation and to his son afforded excellent educational oppor- tunities, which were improved to good advantage. David Bemiss remained a pupil in the public schools until seventeen years of age, when he entered upon the pro-
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fession of teaching. A year later he became a student in an academy with inten- tion to prepare for co lege. and in 1861 he matriculated in Toronto University, from which he received his Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduation with the class of 1865. The following year he won his Master of Arts degree and also the silver medal in natural science. Throughout his entire life he was connected with educational work. On the completion of his university course he was called to the superintendency of the public schools of Clinton, Michigan, where he remained for four years. During the succeeding year he was a teacher at Birmingham, that state, and was then elected superintendent of the city schools of Coldwater, Mich- igan. During his incumbency in that position the standard of education was raised until the right of certification was accorded these schools by the University of Michigan-a privilege never extended to any but institutions of the highest rank. Not only were Mr. Bemiss' labors felt as a progressive intellectual force in the towns mentioned but also constituted an element for educational advancement throughout the state. for he became distinguished as an institute worker and lec- turer and in 1877-8 was president of the Michigan Association of City School Su- perintendents-a position that indicated the high regard entertained for his ability by his coworkers. In 1878 he became superintendent of the public schools of Manistee, Michigan, which also improved under his supervision until they became affiliated with the University of Michigan. He continued there as superintendent and as a member of the board of education 'or nine years and in 1887 accepted the superintendeney of the schools of Fort Scott, Kansas, where he remained for two years.
On the expiration of that period Professor Bemiss resigned to come to Spokane and during the decade between 1889 and 1899 labored indefatigably to place the schools of this city on the highest possible educational plane. He was constantly studying ont new methods to improve the schools and add to their efficiency in preparing boys and girls for the responsible duties of later life. He introduced many valuable measures and plans in connection with the schools and also exerted a powerful and beneficial influence in the educational development of the state. Thoroughness and ability marked his career and he continued one of the chief ex- ponents of high standards of scholarship until his death. Two years before his demise, however, he retired from active connection with the profession and in much needed rest spent his remaining days upon his farm near the city. Ilis standing in professional circles was indicated by the fact that he was appointed by the State Teachers Association to organize a state reading circle, of which he for a time served as president. He was also a member of the state board of education and served as president of the Washington State Teachers Association. He became a member of the national council of education, an organization of sixty members, including leading educators from all parts of the United States. His reputation in his profession was by no means local. He was regarded as one of the ablest ex- ponents of the public school system of the country and he had the power to inspire others with something of the same zeal and interest which actuated him in his work.
In Canada, in 1866. Professor Bemiss was united in marriage to Miss Phebe M. Page, a native of Canada, and unto them were born four children: Catherine M .: Dr. C. D. Bemiss, a prominent dentist of Spokane, who married Miss Mary Craw- ford, of Spokane, by whom he has two children, Richard C. and Catherine C .: El-
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bert V. Bemiss, who is engaged in the box manufacturing business in Spokane; and Florence R.
Death severed the family cirele when en the 16th of February, 1902, Professor Bemiss was called from this life. He had never been remiss in the duties of citizen- ship but always kept well informed coneerning the questions which were of vital and significant interest to eity. state and nation. He was an active republican and he was equally earnest in his support of the First Presbyterian church, in which he served as an elder. In his own home he was a most hospitable host, cver friendly and courteous, yet possessing that dignity which forbade undue familiarity. He enjoyed travel, which was to him a means of rest and recreation, and it is almost needless to say that many of his most pleasant hours were spent in his library in association with men of master minds of all ages. While his intellectual superior- ity placed him above the great majority of his fellows, there was in him neverthe- less an abiding human sympathy that kept him in elose touch with his fellowmen and won him the confidence, good will and honor of all who knew him.
HARLEY LEWIS HUGHES.
Harley Lewis Hughes, editor of the Labor World and widely known as a lead- ing socialist of the northwest. was born in the Willamette valley of Oregon on the 10th of June, 1871. His father, William C. Hughes, of Irish deseent, was a native of Missouri and is now living in Thornton. Whitman county, Washington, where he follows the occupation of farming. He became one of the pioneers of the north- west, making his way from Missouri across the plains to Oregon in 1854. He mar- ried Rosella Matoon, who was born in Indiana and was brought across the plains when only a year old, her parents easting in their lot with the early settlers of Ore- gon in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. William Hughes beeame parents of three sons and a daughter. The brothers of our subjeet are Hosea D. and Charles M., both of whom are farming at Thornton, and the sister is Maud C., the wife of W. C. Baker. a grain merchant and farmer of Thornton.
In the public schools of Whitman county Harley Lewis Hughes pursued his edu- cation prior to entering Colfax College, and when his school days were over he he- came connected with the newspaper business in St. John, Washington. where he remained for six months. He afterward conducted the first newspaper in Harrison, Idaho, ealled the Harrison Ensign, there remaining for a year, after which he be- gan the publication of the Silver Star at Gem, Idaho. His next newspaper venture was in the publication of the Idaho State Tribune at Wallace, Idaho, and from 1896 until 1900 he was editor and publisher of the Basin Progress, at Basin, Mon- tana. He eventually left the newspaper field to become identified with other busi- ness pursuits but in 1906 entered into active connection with the well known Labor World of Spokane. In 1901 he was a reporter on the Spokesman Review and in 1902 and 1903 was organizer for the American Labor Union. In December of the latter year he established a printing business in which he became associated with Coates Brothers in August, 1906. In the previous March he was engaged by the
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labor organizations of Spokane to manage and edit the Labor World and has since published that paper, conducting business under the firm name of Coates, Hughes & Coates. He ever stands in support of the many rather than the few and believes in a more equal division of labor and responsibility and of the wealth that accrues from labor.
Mr. Hughes' close study of the political, social and economic questions of the day has led him to become identified with the socialist party in the work of which he takes an active interest, being frequently a delegate to its city, county and state conventions. He was also the first candidate of the socialist party for mayor in Spokane, being nominated in 1902, and he was a member of the third legislature of the state of Idaho in 1905-6.
On the 3d of August, 1898, Mr. Hughes was married at Basin, Montana, to Mrs. Enuna A. Howe, nec Axtell, a daughter of Dr. Axtell, of Froy, Pennsylvania. They have twin sons, Harry and Edwin, who are attending school. Mr. Hughes is well known in a number of fraternal organizations, being prominently identified with the Eagles and a member of the grand acric. He was also worthy president of the Spokane Serie and has been twice district grand worthy president. He likewise holds membership with the Knights of Maccabees and the Ladies of Security. Ilis interest in public affairs and his ready sympathy for the unfortunate are testified to by his membership on the Spokane Charities Commission. He has been a close and discriminating student of the questions of the day, of existing conditions and of the probable outcome of important issues, and his editorials which bear on the labor world have attracted widespread attention and have awakened earnest thought among his readers.
G. G. RIPLEY.
G. G. Ripley, who has been engaged in the general practice of law in Spokane since 1903, was born in lowa, March 27, 1876. His ancestors came from the north of Ireland in the early part of the seventeenth century and representatives of his family fought for the independence of the nation in the Revolutionary war. His grandfather served under General Winfield Scott and was a gunner on the Consti- tution in the War of 1812.
His father. Elias Pinckney Ripley, was born in Rock Springs, Maryland, July 21. 1837, and is now living in Spokane at the age of seventy-five years. He, too. has a creditable military record. He removed to lowa in 185t and. although he was injured in early life. he served under Adjutant General Baker in the lowa Reserves and held the position of United States enrolling officer. He was also a zealous member and officer of the Union League. He entered upon the practice of law in Ackley, Iowa, and at one time was magistrate in Wright county, that state. He also served as postmaster for a number of years, his commission being signed by General Grant. He has made his home in the northwest since 1910 and is now enjoying a well earned rest in Spokane. In early manhood he wedded Mary E. Groff, who was born in Hlinois and is of Holland and French Huguenot ancestry. although early representatives of her family came to America prior to the Revolu- tionary war. Mr. Ripley also survives and she and her husband are now com-
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fortably located in Spokane. In their family were two daughters: Lena, the wife of Walter W. Fox, a merchant of Iowa; and Florine, the wife of Edwin Serverance, a civil engineer of Montana; while one son. Lloyd Glen, died at the age of eighteen years.
G. G. Ripley. the only surviving son, attended the high school of Belmond, Iowa, and afterward the Iowa State Normal, where he won the degree of Bachelor of Didactics. He was afterward graduated from Drake University at Des Moines with the degree of LL. B. in 1902. He engaged in teaching school both before and after attending the Normal, devoting three years to the profession. Later he became a traveling salesman and subsequently entered upon the practice of law, having been admitted to the bar in Iowa in 1902. He then practiced for a time in Belmond but eame to Spokane in 1903 and in the intervening period to the pres- ent time has largely engaged in praetiee alone. While he is familiar with all branches of the law, he is specializing in equity and corporation work, representing a number of corporations. He also represents a number of mining companies and is familiar with the legal principles which bear upon this branch of practice.
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