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 35
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Mr. Saylor was married to Miss Clara Petty, of Lane county, Oregon, but shortly after coming to Whitman county, his wife passed away in 1886. In January, 1888. Mr. Saylor was married again to Miss Mary Broulete of Washington, a daughter of Mack and Adeline ( Webb) Broulete, and unto them has been born one daughter. Helen, who is at home.
The family are members of the Christian church in the work of which they take an active interest. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and holds the office of guide in the local lodge. His political allegiance he gives to the republican party and at the present time he is a member of the town council.
Mr. Saylor has been a resident of Whitman county for thirty-two years. during which time he has seen the primitive conditions of pioneering that prevailed when he first came here give way to the new order with the westward march of civilization. Where there were great stretches of untilled prairies a quarter of a century ago. are found today highly cultivated and improved ranches, while mere settlements have grown into thriving towns, and villages have been transformed into cities with all the comforts and conveniences of modern civilization.
WILLIAM FREDERICK CHALENOR.
William Frederick Chalenor, senior partner of the firm of Chalenor & Saylor. implement dealers. is one of the well known and prominent citizens of Palouse. where he has been actively identified with the business interests for more than twenty-one years. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on the 18th of May. 1860, and is a son of Frederick W. and Margaret J. (Livingston) Chalenor, both natives of England.
Reared in the city of his birth, in the acquirement of his education. William Frederick Chalener attended the public schools until he was fifteen years. He laid aside his school books in 1875 and began his business career as an employee in a wholesale grocery in Boston. Five years later. at the age of twenty, he re- moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, but upon attaining his majority in 1881 he left there and went to North Dakota, where he filed on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. In 1881, he left his claim and went to Helena. Montana, where he worked in the mines for three years. At the expiration of that period he came to Spokane as an employe of the Northern Pacific Railway Company, but in 1888 be withdrew from their service and entered that of Burns & Chapman, railroad
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contractors. He was in charge of construction work for this company until 1890, when he came to Palouse to buy grain for the Clark & Curtis Milling Company. Three years later he became associated with J. M. Perry in the grain business under the firm name of Perry & Chalcuor. They met with success in the develop- ment of their undertaking and in 1894 extended their activities by putting in a stock of farming implements and machinery. They continued to be associated in business until 1896, when Mr. Chalenor purchased his partner's interest. He subsequently opened a branch at Oakesdale, this county, that he operated under the name of Chalenor & Company, and in 1902 he organized the Palouse Hard- ware & Implement Company. He was vice president of the latter enterprise until 1906. when he disposed of his stock and went into the implement business for himself. The next year he sold a half interest in this to Mr. Saylor, and the business has ever since been conducted under the name of Chalenor & Saylor. They carry a well selected line of farming implements and machinery of the very best brands, and as they are both men of wide experience and practical ideas are meeting with success. The business has made marked development since it was founded six years ago, and they now enjoy an extensive and profitable patronage and corresponding returns.
In 1891, at Palouse, Mr. Chalenor was married to Miss Myrtle M. Smith, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Alonzo and Margaret Smith. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chalenor in the following order: Edgar L., Margery, William A., Clifford B., Richard and Esther C.
Mr. Chalenor is a warden in the Episcopal church in which his family also hold membership, and fraternally he is affiliated with Palouse Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M., of which he is past master, while for twenty-one years he has been treasurer of Constance Chapter, No. 24, O. E. S. His connection with organiza- tions of a more purely social nature is confined to his membership in the Inland Club of Spokane. The political views of Mr. Chalenor coincide with those of the democratic party, to whose men and measures hc gives his support except in municipal elections when he casts his ballot for the candidate he deems best quali- fied for the office irrespective of party lines. He has served several terms on the town council and at the present time he is a member of the school board. Mr. Chalenor is one of the highly esteemed men of the town, as in both his public and private life he has manifested the upright standards, high sense of honor and resolution of purpose that invariably command and hold the respect of all those with whom he has transactions.
ALBERT BENHAM.
Albert Benham, treasurer of Benham & Griffith Co., entered upon his business career well equipped by liberal education for life's responsibilities. He has shown a spirit of determination that has enabled him to successfully solve all the in- tricate and complex problems that have arisen in business affairs. He was born in Cascade, Iowa, on the 3d of May, 1869, his parents being Lewis and Elizabeth (Means) Benham. The father, whose birth occurred in Ashtabula county, Ohio,
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August 5, 1818, was descended from Thomas Benham, a Revolutionary soldier who was born in Connectient in 1759 and died in Ohio in 1830. It was in 1811 that he removed to the latter state, making his way by ox team and encountering all the hardships and privations incident to such a journey at that time. Ile traced his ancestry back to John Benham, who with his two sons came to America on the 30th of May, 1630. in the ship Mary and John. Lewis Benham, the father of our subjeet. had a twin brother, a physician by profession, who was graduated from the Western Reserve Medical College of Cleveland, Ohio, and subsequently served as a soldier in the Civil war. The latter married Miss Rebecca Van Horn and his death occurred in February. 1898. The mother of our subjeet was born in Indiana and was of English descent, though her family have long resided in this country, her parents removing from Virginia to Indiana at an early day. She is at present a resident of Cascade, lowa, and is now in her eighty-second year. IIer husband died in 1888. They were the parents of seven children, of whom one died in childhood. The others are: Lucius T., who is a member of Benham & Griffith Co. and the father of Mrs. Austin Corbin II, of Spokane; Raymond S., who is in business in Chicago and is the father of Mrs. James M. Neff, whose husband, Dr. Neff, was formerly an assistant to Dr. Murphy of that city, but is now practicing surgery in Spokane; Alice, who died on the 13th of September, 1901; Isabel who became the wife of John Jackson Fry and died in 1890; Wil- liam II., who died in Seattle, 1906, leaving two children, Arthur L. and Pauline; and Albert, of this review.
Albert Benham was a pupil in the common schools of his native state and after attending the high school matriculated in Cornell College at Mount Vernon, lowa. He was a student in that institution from 1881 until 1888. In the latter vear he came to Spokane and engaged in the grocery business with Thomas S. Griffith and Lucius T. Benham under the firm name of Benham & Griffith Co. He is a man of good business sense and easily avoids the mistakes and disasters that come to those who, though possessing remarkable faculties in some respects, are liable to erratic movements that result in unwarranted failures. His well planned enterprise, his judgment and even-paced energy have carried him forward to the goal of success. Mr. Benham is a staneh supporter of the principles and policies of the democratic party and holds membership in the Chamber of Commerce of this city.
GEORGE WASHINGTON LARCE.
George Washington Larue, president of the firm of George W. Larue & Com- pany, real-estate and insurance agents, was born in Randolph county, Missouri, on the 30th of October. 1855. His parents were John R. and Charlotte (Barnes) Larue, the father a native of Kentucky and the mother of Virginia, but for many Years they were residents of Missouri, where he engaged in farming.
When he was old enough to begin his education George W. Larue entered the publie schools of his native state. completing his course in a private academy. His student days were terminated in 1872 and he returned to the farm, in the eul- tivation of which he assisted his father until he was twenty-two. Fully qualified
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to begin working for himself he left home in 1877 and began his independent agri- enltural career. The following year he decided to come to the northwest, believing that he would find better opportunities here than in his native state. Upon his arrival in 1878 he first located in the vicinity of Walla Walla, where he farmed until 1879. He then went to the Big Bend country and filed on three hundred and twenty acres of land, but subsequently took the agency for a sewing-machine. He continued at this until 1884 when he came to Colfax and entered into partnership with John Pattison in the real-estate and insurance business, under the firm name of Larue & Pattison. Two years later they dissolved partnership and Mr. Larue became associated with A. W. Wisner, under the name of Larue. Wisner & Com- pany. In 1888. Mr. Larue was appointed postmaster under President Cleveland, but he resigned his office at the end of a year and again went into the real-estate and insurance business. The following year, in 1890, he was elected county treas- urer. serving in this capacity for two terms. at the expiration of which time he again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, locating on a farm north of Col- fax that he operated for six years. In 1900 he came back to town and became identified with John K. Eacho, under the name of Eacho, Larue & Company in the real-estate. insurance and loan business. At the expiration of three years, Mr. Larue purchased the interest of Mr. Eacho. continuing the business alone until 1908, when he took his son, Charles R .. into partnership with him, who was, in 1911. elected to the state legislature from Colfax, the seventh district of Whit- man county. George W. Larue has met with success in his undertakings and is now president of the Colfax Investment Company, and he was a stockholder and director of the Farmers' State Bank.
At Walla Walla on the 16th of October, 1881, Mr. Larue was united in mar- riage to Miss Margaret L. Actor. a native of this state and a daughter of Herman C. and Sarah (Davidson) Actor, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Illinois. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Larue numbers five: Charlotte, who is at home : Charles R., who married Miss Sarah Schulerud and has one son ; and Mar- garet. George Sterling and Lueille, all of whom are at home.
Mr. Larne is a member of the Woodmen of the World, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Commercial Club of Colfax. He is a democrat in his politieal views and takes mueh interest in all matters pertaining to the develop- ment of the municipality, has never prominently participated in governmental affairs, although he did serve as couneilman at large. Mr. Larue has been a resi- dent of Colfax during the greater part of the time for twenty-seven years, and is widely known throughout the county, where he has many friends who hold him in high esteem.
DANIEL W. TRUAX.
Daniel W. Truax, who is now following the business of banking, has been prom- inently identified, as a sueeessful farmer, merchant and postmaster for several terms. with the business interests of Tekoa, Whitman county, since 1883, and in- deed is the founder of the town, which he laid out in 1888. He was born in Mon- treal, Canada. December 23, 1830, the son of Caleb and Elizabeth (Kendrick)
DANIEL W. TRUAX
THE NEW YORK IPUBLIC LIBRARY 1
1
LEHOX
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Truax, the former a native of New York state and the latter of Ireland. The an- cestors of the subject of this review are traeed back to Holland whence members of the family emigrated to America, settling in the state of New York in 1620. John Truax, the grandfather on the paternal side, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
In 1836 Daniel W. Truax went to live with his grandmother, who resided in the state of New York, and there he attended school until 1845, when he began working on his father's farm in that state. continuing so to do until 1849, when his parents removed to Minnesota, where the father took up a homestead. The son con- tinned at home assisting his father with the farm work until the spring of 1853, when he settled on a quarter seetion of homestead land and began cultivating it. In 1855 he built a sawmill on his homestead and carried on the sawmill business in connection with his farming until 1857, when he sold his holdings there and re- moved to Wininger, Minnesota, where he again engaged in the sawmill business, a vocation which he followed until 1861, when he removed to Hastings, Minnesota, and again engaged in the sawmill business. There he remained until 1883. when he moved to Whitman county, Washington, and bought forty aeres where Tekoa now stands. He engaged in the lumber business under the firm name of the Truax Lum- ber Company but in 1886 he sold out his lumber business and two years later laid out the town of Tekoa. In 1890 he entered the field of banking. becoming the viee president of the First Bank of Tekoa. He also embarked in the mercantile business in partnership with George D. Brown under the firm name of George D. Brown & Company, the title later being changed to that of the Tekoa Mercantile Company. In 1906 he sold out his mercantile interests, having disposed of his banking interests in 1891. On August 25, 1902, he incorporated the Tekoa State Bank, of which he became the president. in which position he is now serving. One of the activities which distinguished Mr. Truax while engaged in the mercantile business was a plan inaugurated by him and his partner during the hard times following 1893. They furnished their customers with one hundred dollar coupons which entitled them to that amount of eredit at the store, agreeing at the same time to accept all the butter and eggs their customers could supply. This proved a satisfactory arrangement all around. the firm being protected by the country produce receipts and the customers who were in hard straits were thus given an opportunity to secure much needed supplies.
At Hastings, Minnesota, in 1853, Mr. Truax was married to Miss Mary A. Truax, who was born in New York, a daughter of Gnirshom and Deborah Truax, both of whom were natives of the state of New York. To Daniel W. and Mary A. Traux four children have been born. Byron F., of Tekoa, who is married and has three children. Amelia E., deceased, who married J. D. Dull by whom she had one child. a son. Viola E .. who became the wife of Fred Kramer who was acci- dentally killed just after marriage. She later married John MaeKenzie, by whom she has a daughter. Osear C., now deceased, who married Miss Sadie Wereinek. and they became the parents of one son. The second marriage of Mr. Truax was celebrated in Tekon in 1895, when he wedded Miss Mary A. Anderson, a native of Scotland.
The political allegiance of Mr. Truax is given to the republican party, in which he takes an netive interest. having filled several important positions of publie trust. Ile has served as mayor of Wininger, Minnesota, and for three terms filled the office of postmaster of Tekoa, also serving as a member of the school board, as justice of Vol. IN-17
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the peace for twelve years and United States commissioner for three years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a past master of the Blue lodge, has filled all the official chairs of the chapter and also belongs to the commandery and the Mystic Shrine. It is not remarkable that a man so intimately connected with the business and fraternal life of Tekoa and Whitman county should have an ex- tended acquaintance throughout the entire county. where he is known intimately by nearly all the people. The business success which in so large a degree has crowned his efforts has been attained in like measure by few other men in Whitman county. Possessing a broad knowledge of human nature. being of a genial disposition, and having large executive ability as well as an unusual mastery of detail, he has been enabled to overcome many apparently unsurmountable obstacles in his path and to render effective service to the people of Whitman county in the days when such service was of peculiar necessity. The success which he has attained has enabled him in later years to be of material benefit to large numbers of worthy people with whom he has come in contact and makes him today a potent factor in the advance- ment of the interests of Tekoa and community. He is an honored and popular mem- ber of the fraternity to which he belongs and throughout the social and business circles of Tekoa is held in the highest respect and esteem.
GARDNER CHAMBERLIN.
While the real-estate operations of Gardner Chamberlin are extensive, he is chiefly handling only his own properties. He was one who recognized the oppor- tunities of the west and in their improvement has reached a conspicuous, honorable and enviable position in business circles. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, February 10, 1863, a son of Seth and Sophia Long (Dean) Chamberlin, who were natives of New Hampshire and Massachusetts respectively, and of English and French descent. Members of the Chamberlin family took part in the war for inde- pendence and one of the brothers of Seth Chamberlin was a soldier of the Civil war. The first of the Dean family in America eame to the new world prior to the revolu- tion and many of them took an active part in that war. An uncle of Sophia Long Dean founded the academy at Franklin, Massachusetts, while one of her brothers aided in the defense of the Union in the Civil war. The father of our subject was a wholesale dry-goods merchant and importer, carrying on business for many years on the same site where his father was located, this being on Kilby street, opposite the Mason building in Boston. The name of the firm of which he was a member was Little, Chamberlin & Company. For several years prior to his death he lived retired, however, and made his home with his sons in Spokane. The death of Seth Chamberlin occurred October 6. 1903, and his wife had preceded him in death July 14, 1878. She was a sister of Mrs. William Pettet, of Spokane.
Dr. Theodore Chamberlin, a brother of Gardner Chamberlin. is a graduate of Harvard and is now living in Concord. Massachusetts, being one of the faculty of Middlesex school there. Another brother. Frederick Dean Chamberlin. also a grad- uate of Harvard, took a prominent part in civic affairs and worked earnestly for the welfare of Spokane. He was associated with his brother Gardner in looking after his interests here and in connection with other pioneers organized the Electric Light Company of Spokane in the fall of 1886, others interested being H. L. Cutter. Frank
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Rockwood Moore and William Pettet. These gentlemen promoted the interests of the company until it was merged into the Washington Water Power Company, Frederick Dean Chamberlin having served as its secretary. He died June 12. 1901, and in his passing Spokane lost one whose labors constituted a vital force in progress here from pioneer times.
Gardner Chamberlin was educated in Boston, attending Charles W. Stone's private school, now located on Beacon street but then located on Temple place. He entered a broker's office there but in response to his brother's urgent plea came to Spokane in 1887. Together they engaged in the commission business on Riverside avenne but sold out in the fall of 1888. the business which they estab- hshed gradually developing into that now conducted under the name of Greenough Brothers. On retiring from the commission business Gardner Chamberlin con- centrated his efforts upon the control and management of his own property in- terests and since the death of his brother has been engaged in that work alone. He owns property at the northeast corner of Post and Riverside, at the southeast corner of Lincoln and Riverside, at the northwest corner of Sprague and Lincoln and has other holdings in both residence and warehouse property. He is also a director in the Spokane & Eastern Trust Company and one of its largest stock- holders and is financially interested in the Washington Water Power Company. Making investments in property here at an early day, his holdings have con- stantly increased in value, making him one of the wealthy residents of Spokane.
Mr. Chamberlin is a member of Spokane Lodge of Elks, No. 228, also of the Spokane Club, the Spokane Country Club, the Spokane Tennis Club and the Chamber of Commerce. He is secretary and treasurer of the Spokane Humane Society, succeeding his brother, Frederick Dean, upon his death in 1901, who had al- ways been active in its behalf and to whose efforts much of its present success is due. He attends All Saints church and votes with the republican party but his activity in political circles is only that of a good citizen. He had the sagacity to discern what the future had in store for this great and growing western country and in the fullness of time he has gathered the harvest of his labors.
JAMES W. MORRISON.
James W. Morrison is one of the enterprising real-estate men of Spokane who have made a close study of the condition of the real-estate market and have there- fore been able to meet the situations which have arisen and to improve the op- portunities which have offered. He is far-sighted and progressive in all his busi- ness movements and his labors have proven of marked benefit to the development of the city. He was born near Titusville, Pennsylvania, May 14, 1850. a son of John B. and Margaret (MeMaster) Morrison. The father was an agriculturist and merchant, but after the discovery of oil at Titusville was engaged in that business until 1864, when he moved to Kingsville, Ohio, where his death occurred. He was well known throughout the northwestern part of Pennsylvania and in Ohio as a thoroughly reliable business man.
James W. Morrison acquired his education in the public schools in Pennsyl- vania and later at the Kingsville Academy. of Kingsville, Ohio. After graduating
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from the latter institution he was engaged for a short time in agricultural pursuits and in 1877 removed to Sibley, Iowa where for fourteen years he was engaged in the farm implement, hardware and grain business. During his residenee in Sibley he took a prominent part in eivic affairs. He served as mayor of the eity for two terms and also as justice of the peace throughout the time he resided there. On aeeount of ill health he disposed of his interests in that town and in the spring of 1891 removed to Washington, locating at Kettle Falls, Stevens county. He devoted his whole time and attention to regaining his health and did not enter into business until he removed to Spokane in 1893. Sinee he arrived in this city he has been engaged in the real-estate, farm-mortgage and insurance business and is one of the leaders in the real-estate and insurance eireles of Spokane. He lists property throughout the northwest and British Columbia.
At Jesup, Iowa, Mr. Morrison was married to Miss Mattie Stage, a daughter of James and Martha Stage. To their union two children have been born: Cline J., who is in business with his father; and Earl W. who is now studying arehi- teeture in Chicago. The latter has displayed remarkable talent in his profession and while a boy in the public schools of Spokane designed some of the most at- tractive residences in this eity, one being for William C. Winters and one for E. T. Hay, a brother of the present governor. Later he designed the home of A. T. Johnson which was recently disposed of for thirty thousand dollars. He is now but twenty-three. years of age, and he intends, after completing his technical course in Chicago, January 1. to open an independent offiee.
Mr. Morrison has always given his support to the republican party. In addi- tion to the offices he held in Sibley he took an active part in political affairs in Washington. While a resident of that state he was nominated by acclamation for the state senate on the republican tieket, but was defeated by a elose margin of twelve votes through the fusion of the demoeratie and populist parties. Since coming to Spokane he has not taken an active interest in polities nor held public offiee.
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