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 36
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Prompted by a laudable ambition, his labors have at all times been ehar- acterized by thoroughness, and by his mastery of tasks undertaken Mr. Morrison has made creditable advanee in business circles and is aeeorded recognition by leading business men as one who deserves classification in their ranks.
JOSHUA MILES PALMERTON.
Joshua M. Palmerton, well known as a grain dealer and undertaker at Pull- man, Whitman county, manifests in his commercial interests the activity and busi- ness enterprise which are characteristic of the age. He was born in Lieking county, Ohio, on the 31st of October, 1850, his parents being Miles and Mary J. (Seaman) Palmerton, both natives of New York state. He is a grandson of Joshua Palmerton, a descendant of the family prominent in Revolutionary times. When Joshua M. was one year of age his parents removed to Illinois, and during his childhood he attended the public sehools in that state until 1859, when he was taken by his parents to Missouri. In that state he continued his studies until 1861 when with his parents he returned to Illinois, there completing his eduea-
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tion. In 1867 he again went to Missouri and while there assisted in the cultiva- tion of the home farm. He remained in that state until 1875 when he located on Rebel Flat, Whitman county. Washington, and again engaged in agricultural pur- suits. Upon his arrival in Washington he immediately began taking an active interest in the agricultural possibilities which it presented. and one year after he came he took up a homestead of one hundred and twenty acres on Rebel Flat, six miles south of Colfax. He proved up his claim and resided upon it until 1889. In that year he removed to Pullman where he owned six acres of land, and at once entered the employ of the J. H. Bellinger Grain Company, having charge of their warehouse. The following year he improved his property in town and also added to his real-estate holdings. Later he engaged in the hotel business, building the Artesian Hotel, and in 1892 erected the present Artesian Hotel which he conducted until 1898. During that time he studied the undertaking business, and at present is conducting an undertaking establishment. In 1911 he bought grain for the Farmers' Union Grain Company, and throughout his career in Pull- man has been interested in real estate. His activities have extended also into other lines, and he was one of the organizers of the Pullman Bottling & Cold Storage Company.
On the 9th of April, 1871. Mr. Palmerton was married to Miss Lily C. Layman of Virginia, a daughter of John D. and Ann C. (Ringer) Layman, natives of Vir- ginia and Maryland respectively. To their union four children have been born: George M .. of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, who is married and has one son; William J., also of Coeur d'Alene, who is married and has one daughter : Birdie, who is mar- ried to Robert Hughes of Honolulu and is the mother of one daughter; and Nellie M., who resides in Seattle.
In politics Mr. Pahnerton gives his support to the republican party and has been active in its circles. He has served as a member of the school board for nearly twenty years, and was at one time a member of the council. His inter- ests are always along the lines which tend to moral and educational advancement, and during the time the liquor question was a political issue he gave his enthusi- astic and ardent support in opposition to the admission of saloons into Pullman. He holds membership in the Pullman Chamber of Commerce, Fraternally he he- Jongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and to the Woodmen of the World, in which order he has occupied all the chairs in his local camp. He is a progressive and wide-awake citizen. always on the alert for and ready to incor- porate in his business the most modern methods. and they have not only enabled him to attain prosperity but have also won him a high place in the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens.
CHARLES OSTON WORLEY.
Well known among the successful men of Whitman county, Washington, is Charles Oston Worley, formerly banker, hardware merchant and Indian agent, who is now living retired. He was born in Peoria, Illinois, July 18, 1851. a son of John J. and Sarah (Bradford) Worley, both natives of Ohio. The parents re- moved to Nebraska territory in 1856, where the father conducted an Indian trad-
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ing store and Charles attended school. In 1864. while the father was in the army and the family were left unprotected at home, they were driven out of the town by the Indians. On account of the unsettled conditions in Nebraska at that early day the family removed to Ohio. where our subject continued his schooling until 1869, when his parents returned to the west, settling in Kansas. There he as- sisted his father with the duties on the farm and attended the common schools. Later he became a student in the academy at Council Grove and subsequently en- tered the State Normal School at Emporia for one year. In 1875 he journeyed to California where he was employed in mill and factory work until the fall of 1877, when he returned to Kansas and entered upon agricultural pursuits until 1882.
In that year, the west again beckoning him, Mr. Worley went to Rockford, Spokane county, Washington, and began working at the carpenter's trade and later engaged in steam engineering. In 1881 he again returned to Kansas, bringing his parents back with him to Rockford, where he continued to follow the carpenter's trade until 1896, when he was appointed by the government as steam engineer on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation. He then took up his residence upon the reserva- tion and continued in his appointed position until 1901, the year in which he was given the position of sub-agent of the reservation. He performed his duties faith- fully and satisfactorily and continued in that connection until July, 1905, at which time he was appointed superintendent of the reservation, a position which he held until August, 1909. when he resigned to engage in the banking and hardware business in Tekoa, to which place the Indian agency had been removed in 1907. Upon his resignation of the office of superintendent he was appointed United States commissioner, a position which he still holds. After being connected with the bank in which he was first interested until 1911, he sold out. but still retains his interest in the hardware business in Tekoa. He was also vice president and a stockholder and director of the Citizens Bank of Tekoa.
Mr. Worley was married in Kansas. August 22, 1878. to Miss Maydee Wash- burn. a native of lowa and daughter of Sylvester and Emmeline (Little) Wash- burn, both of whom were born in Illinois. To this union were born three chil- dren: Lawrence, who is at home; and Frank and William, both deceased. The political allegiance of Mr. Worley is given to the republican party, in the affairs of which he takes considerable interest. He is now president of the Tekoa school board and while in Kansas was a member of the city council of Osage City and deputy sheriff and county treasurer of Osage county. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the Masonic lodge, of which he is past master, and belongs to Tekoa Chapter, No. 18, R. A. M., of which he has been secretary. He is identi- fied with the Woodmen of the World and has occupied all the official chairs of that order, and also belongs to the Knights and Ladies of Security. Both Mr. and Mrs. Worley are members of the Christian church, of which he is a trustec and in which the family take an active interest, assisting materially in supporting the church work and aiding in many ways to make it effective in the upbuilding of the religious interests of Tekoa.
The success in business life which enabled Mr. Worley to retire at a compar- atively early age came not by chance but as a result of wisely directed endeavors throughout his business career. coupled with those fundamental necessities for success-industry. economy and ambition. He may truly be said to be a self-made
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man, as he started out in life with nothing but his own hands, a courageous spirit and a healthy body to make his way in the world. During his residence in Tekoa he has by his uniformly honorable methods and square dealing earned the confi- dence and respect as well as the friendship of a very large proportion of the people of Whitman county and he is held in high esteem by all who know him.
LUCIUS T. BENHAM.
Lucins T. Benham is numbered among the influential residents of Spokane, where for some years he has been engaged in the wholesale grocery business. ac- tive in control of what was the first wholesale house in the Inland Empire. He was born October 29. 1817. in Ridgeville. Lorain county, Ohio, the son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Means) Benham. natives of Ohio and of Indiana respectively. The ancestral line is traced back to Thomas Benham, a soldier of the Revolution- ary war, who was born in Conncetient in 1759 and died in Ohio in 1830. In 1811 he removed to that state making his way by ox team and encountering all the hardships, privations and innumerable dangers, with which at that time such trips through sparsely settled, practically roadless country were fraught-a coun- try still infested with the hostile bands of the original inhabitants who looked toward the oncoming of the white brothers none too friendly. Back of him the line goes to John Benham, who with his two sons came from England to America on the 30th of May. 1630. as a passenger on the ship Mary and John. Lewis Benham was born August 5. 1818, and his life record covered the intervening years to 1888. His wife still survives and is now living in Cascade. Iowa, in her righty-second year. She is a representative of an old American family of English lineage and her parents removed from Virginia to Indiana. In the family of Lewis and Elizabeth Benham were seven children, of whom one died in childhood, while Alice. Isabel and William H. are also deceased. The brothers of our sub- jeet still living are: Albert, who is treasurer of Benham & Griffith Co., and Ray- mond S .. who is engaged in business in Chicago.
The removal of the family to Cascade. lowa. was followed by Lucius T. Ben- ham's attendance in the public schools of that place and by a further course of study in Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa. He started out in the business world in the fall of 1861. when a youth of fourteen years, sceuring a elerkship in the postoffice and in a general store at Caseade. For three years he devoted his time to that work, after which he went to Chicago and entered the employ of Lemuel Barber & Son, the partners of whom were his uncle and cousin. They were in the wholesale grocery and liquor business and with that house Mr. Benham re- mained until 1868, when he returned to lowa, settling at Canton, where he es- tablished a general mercantile store.
It was during the period of his residence there that Mr. Benham was mar- ried in June, 1868, to Miss Mary G. Trumbull, a daughter of G. W. Trumbull, of Canton. and a member of an old American family. She died in Spokane in 1889. leaving a daughter, Katherine I .. now the wife of Austin Corbin II. of this city
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Mr. Benham continued a resident of Canton, Iowa, until 1870, when he re- moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he was engaged in the wholesale liquor business for two years. Following the Chicago fire he went to that city in the fall of 1871 and there continued in the wholesale business until January, 1889, when he came to Spokane and joined forees with T. S. Griffith in organizing the firm of Benham & Griffith, proprietors of the first wholesale house in the Inland Empire. In this business he has since continued and his progressive and enter- prising methods and straightforward dealing have constituted the basis of a suc- eess which places him with the wealthy residents of the city. He was also for several years a director and stoekholder in the Exchange National Bank, of Spo- kane.
He is a man of considerable loeal influenee, well fitted by nature for leadership. His opinions, carry weight because his sagacity is keen and his judgment is sound, and men have learned to know that what Lucius T. Benham says he will do. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party but is not an active worker in its ranks. He belongs, however, to the Chamber of Commerce and is much in- terested in all that pertains to the development of the city, cooperating with the Chamber in all of its various projects to promote the upbuilding of Spokane and give publicity to its resources and its opportunities.
ROBERT EASSON.
No history of Spokane would be complete without mention of Robert Easson, who was one of the most popular, respected and worthy residents of the eity, re- liable in business and active in his cooperation in all progressive public movements. He was born in Dundee, Scotland, February 1, 1817. His father, Robert Easson, Sr., was a wholesale grocer, and the son received a thorough business education and training. His more specifically literary education was acquired in private schools of Edinburgh and of Paris. He came to the United States in 1870 and seeured employment in a large wholesale grocery house in Chicago, devoting ten years of his life to the task of mastering the principles and details of that business. On the expiration of that period he went to Omaha, accepting a position with the large house of Paxton, Gallagher & Company. His ability soon won him recognition and he was admitted as junior member of the firm and eventually became the managing partner. Under his able direction and control the business of the firm was in- creased from two hundred thousand to two million dollars per year.
Thinking to find a still broader field of labor and wider opportunities in the rapidly developing Pacific coast country Mr. Easson came to Spokane in 1890 and here established the wholesale grocery house of Hale & Easson. The firm built up a large business and prospered but the panic of 1893 came on and the company went into liquidation after paying every liability in full. In 1895. having gotten his financial affairs here into excellent shape again, Mr. Easson accepted an offer from James J. Hogan to go to La Crosse. Wisconsin, and manage his wholesale grocery house. He returned to Spokane in the summer of 1897 to look after his interests here and on the 3d of May, 1898, was elected secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. He regarded Spokane as his permanent place of abode even after
ROBERT EASSON
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TELY
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going to Wisconsin and retained his beautiful residence in Lidgerwood, which he had erceted and adorned at a cost of about twelve thousand dollars. From time to time he made investment in enterprises and business projects in the northwest, he- coming owner of one-fifth interest in the Sloean Boy mines and also had other min- ing interests in the Okanogan.
On the 12th of March. 1871, in Chicago, Mr. Basson was united in marriage to Miss Bella Donaldson. a daughter of Hiram and Agnes Donaldson. Unto this marriage were born four children: George, who is now deceased ; Bella, the wife of Sidney MeClintock; Jessie; and Sanford. The eldest son accepted the offer of a fine position in Hong Kong, China, and the family had just received a letter in- forming them of his safe arrival there when the father's death occurred. Later the son also passed away. In September, 1898, Mr. Easson went to Lewiston, Idaho, with the Chamber of Commerce excursion. His sudden death was the result of a stroke of apoplexy.
Perhaps no better estimate of his character and of the high regard entertained for him wherever he was known enn be given than in quoting from the Spokesman Review which in its comment on his demise said: "Within ten minutes after the death of Mr. Easson mourning streamers were stretched across the streets and draped over the arch of welcome by the Lewiston people. Through the local tele- phone exchange and by special committee every place of business in Lewiston was notified of the appalling event and the proprietors immediately closed their doors. Tears clouded the vision of strong men and a sense of personal bereavement was seen in every woman's face. The citizens of Lewiston draped the train in black and attached the sad words 'We mourn our loss' within a mourning border to cach side of the central coach of the train. Knots of erepe were added to the badges of the excursionists and worn by the people of Lewiston. Spokane's sorrow was Lewis- ton's sorrow. Spokane's loss was Lewiston's loss. . The two cities were united in the one bond of grief. In an hour the remains of Mr. Easson were prepared for removal to Spokane. It was a mournful procession that formed for the home- ward journey. Eight physicians including Dr. Olmstead and Dr. Grove of Spo- kane and Dr. Hamilton, Dr. Morris, Dr. Inman and Dr. Shaft of Lewiston, were the pall bearers. They were followed by the Chamber of Commerce and the busi- ness men of Lewiston. There was even a greater throng of people surrounding the station to express their sympathy for the afflicted guests than were present to welcome them the day before. At a special meeting of the Spokane Chamber of Commeree called by President E. D. Olmstead on board the Lewiston excursion train the following resolutions were adopted:
" 'WHEREAS. It has pleased Almighty God to His infinite wisdom to call from our midst, without a moment's notice. our beloved associate and esteemed secretary, Robert Easson.
" 'WHEREAS, He was taken from us when flushed and happy over the grand success of the Lewiston excursion, knowing and probably realizing full well that the said success was largely if not entirely due to his individual efforts, therefore he it
" 'RESOLVED, that while we how to the will of the Great Ruler of the Uni- verse we fully realize that we have lost our most earnest and faithful worker, that Spokane has suffered an irreparable loss in a loyal friend who was always ready
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to devote his entire time and wonderful energy to any projeet whose aim was to ad- vanee the welfare of his adopted home.
" 'RESOLVED. that Spokane Chamber of Commerce extend to the bereaved widow and family their heartfelt sympathy and eondolenee.'"
Thus passed from this life a eitizen whom Spokane felt that she eould illy afford to lose. He had proven his worth and ability in many ways and had at all times commanded the good will and confidence of his fellowmen because his life was up- right and honorable, his aetions manly and sineere and his principles high. He held friendship inviolable, was devoted to the welfare of his family and in a word possessed all of the admirable characteristies of the upright mnan and citizen.
Mr. Easson deserves the eredit without doubt of being the originator of the Spo- kane's fight for just freight rates. Early in 1891 he was one of the men who started Spokane's first freight rate contest before the Interstate Commeree Com- mission. That first hearing seeured Spokane the first and best decision it ever received before the commission. This ease resulted in a decisive vietory for Spo- kane but as is well known was set aside by a decision of the United States supreme eourt. When James J. Hill of the Great Northern Railroad approached Spokane with a proposition to give that eity terminal rates in exchange for a eash payment and donation of lands for a right of way, Mr. Easson was one of the most active members of the committee to seeure the necessary money and property to aeeom- plish the ends that Mr. Hill had promised, and to no one in the eity was it a greater disappointment than to Mr. Easson when Hill repudiated his part of the verbal contraet and refused to carry out what he had promised in regard to terminal rates. He was the only one who argued and insisted that Hill and the city of Spokane should have a written contraet but the other members of the committee over-ruled what afterward proved to be sound judgment on his part. To Mr. Easson's eredit, be it said, that he was the only man in the city of Spokane who had the moral eour- age to tell James J. Hill to his face that he had deeeived and betrayed the people of Spokane in refusing to carry out his promise. After the failure to put in ter- minal rates as promised, Mr. Easson again took up the agitation to seeure for Spo- kane what was its just due, and up to the time of his death he never eeased to agi- tate this question and to enlist the support of his neighbors to push this ease to a finish. To mention Mr. Easson's serviee in this matter, probably nothing better ean be said than that through his efforts the services of some men in Spokane were enlisted in this fight twenty years ago who have never laid down the burden, and many of these men who were elose personal friends of Robert Easson have felt his spirit was with them through the many years they have waged this eontest for justiee and right.
WILLIAM MARTIN DUNCAN.
William Martin Dunean, who is at present ably discharging his duties as county treasurer of Whitman eounty, was born in Vallejo, California, on the 7th of July, 1872, and is a son of Robert and Mary B. (Martin) Duncan, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Iowa. His grandfathers were Samuel
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Duncan of Pennsylvania and George W. Martin. of New Hampshire. The par- ents came to Whitman county from California in 1877, and in the country schools of Washington William M. Duncan acquired his early education. Subsequently he entered the State College of Washington and was graduated with a degree of B. S. in the class of 1900. The year following his graduation he taught school. and the next year accepted a clerical position in the general merchandise store of R. B. Bragg & Company of Pullman. In both of these positions he exhibited a ready spirit to work and an ability to master the essential details of his under- taking .. In 1907 he was elected county auditor to which office he was reelected in 1909. Two years later he was elected to the office of county treasurer of Whit- man county.
In November, 1906, in Pullman, Washington, William M. Duncan was mar- ried to Miss Almeda Smith, of lowa. a daughter of W. H. and Mattic (Schull) Smith. the former a native of Arkansas and the latter of North Carolina. To their union one child, Emogene, has been born. Politically Mr. Dunean is a mem- ber of the republican party, firmly believing its policies to be most conducive to good government. He has rendered his party much valuable service and has been one of its ablest supporters in the county. In the various offices to which he has been elected upon the nomination of the members of his party he has more than won their approval for the able conduct of his duties. He holds membership in the Moscow Lodge. No. 219. B. P. O. E., Colfax Lodge. No. 1. Knights of Pyth- ias, and in the Christian church of Colfax. His business ability and genial man- ner enable Mr. Duncan to meet the requirements of his other and serve the public in a satisfactory manner. In the fraternal and social circles with which he is connected he is highly esteemed. and the number of his friends is almost as large as is that of his acquaintances.
GRANVILLE BOND CARTER.
Granville B. Carter, carly recognizing the fact that success and prosperity have their foundations in persistent, honorable and intelligently directed labor, has worked his way upward, his rise marked at every step by achievement. He is well known in Colfax since he is acting as sheriff of Whitman county. He was born in Adams county. Ilinois, on the 27th of October. 1851, a son of Joseph W. and Rachael (Dorsett) Carter, natives of Pennsylvania and North Carolina re- spectively. and a grandson of John and Lindsey (Dorsett) Carter, also of Penn- sylvania and North Carolina.
Mr. Carter acquired his education in the district schools of Illinois, but be- cause of his father's death when he was a lad of but seven years, he found it nec- essary to put aside his text-books at an carly age and contribute to the main- tenance of the family home. Until 1873 he assisted his brothers in the manage- ment of the home farm, but at that time he rented property for a year, after which he again worked on the home farm. In 1878 he rented land in lowa and was en- gaged in its cultivation until the next year, when he removed to Missouri where he again took up agricultural pursuits until the spring of 1881. At that time he crossed the plains with teams, the trip consuming three months and five days, and
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located in the state of Washington, northeast of Colfax. In that district he en- tered a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, and when he entered upon its possession but two dollars and fifty cents remained of his capital upon which to support himself during the following winter. He immediately began improving his land and until 1893 was actively engaged in its cultivation. In that year he removed to Alberta, Canada, where he farmed on four hundred and eighty aeres of land for three years before returning to Whitman county. Here he again en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, and was thus occupied for three years when he was appointed deputy sheriff. He remained in this office for three years before entering upon a business career and engaged in the sale of implements for two years. Fol- lowing that he again served as deputy sheriff from 1904 to 1906. In the latter year he engaged in the fuel business and conducted that until his eleetion in 1909 to the office of sheriff of Whitman county. He was reeleeted and is at present serving his second term. In his agricultural pursuits, business undertakings and public offices he has always maintained the strictest integrity, and his diligent application to the duties which have devolved upon him, and the regard he has always held for the opinion and interests of others have won him many loyal supporters and firm friends.
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