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 42
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Mr. Armstrong has large holdings of real estate in Tacoma and Seattle and owns timber lands on the coast, which contain many million feet of lumber. He has improved farms in Adams and Okanogan counties, this state, and also in Cook and Gillam counties. Oregon, which are mostly devoted to general farming and which he all works for his own account. Moreover, he owns one hundred and twenty acres close to Houston, Texas, which are devoted to the raising of tobacco and which he rents. He is the owner and president of the Goldendale Milling Company of Goldendale. Washington.
Mr. Armstrong still remains an active democrat. although he has repeatedly declined to hold public office. He has served as a member of the city democratic committee, has been a delegate to the state convention and was the first to advo- cate and put in force the direct primary clection of the democratic nominees in this state. This was in the fall of 1906, just a year before the state compulsory law was adopted.
On the 31st of Jannary. 1884. at Brussels, Ontario, Mr. Armstrong was united in marriage to Miss Margaret McLeod. a daughter of Kenneth and Mary (Mc- Vol. 111-20
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Donald) MeLeod of that eity. They had four children: Garnet, who died in Spo- kane at the age of nineteen years, just after he had graduated from the high school; Seeord, who is with the Spokane Gas Company; Stanley, a student in the Washington Agricultural College at Pullman; and George, who died at the age of sixteen years. The family reside at No. 2007 Ninth avenue in an attractive home which is justly noted for its warm-hearted hospitality.
Mr. Armstrong belongs to Spokane Lodge, No. 228, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Order of Moose and is a member of the Inland Club. He has never been especially active in fraternal eireles, however, preferring to eoneen- trate his energies upon his business and official duties, and in both fields he is re- garded as a man of influence whose counsel is worthy of consideration because his views are practical and his principles are based upon a progressive spirit.
NICHOLAS E. J. GENTRY.
For a quarter of a eentury identified with the grain trade in Washington and most of that period at Pullman, Whitman county, Nicholas E. J. Gentry has be- eome a well known figure in that particular branch of business in the great north- west. He was born in Lineoln county, Missouri, February 18. 1860, a son of Reu- ben and Sarah (MeIntosh) Gentry, both of whom were natives of Virginia. He is also a grandson of George Gentry and Joseph Melntoseh, both of Virginia, who were participants in the Mexican war.
The early years of N. E. J. Gentry were spent in Missouri, where he attended the publie sehools, and later in Pike county, where he took a course in the MeCune College. In 1882 he began teaching sehool continuing in this profession until 1887. when he removed to Washington, settling in Whelan. Whitman county, where he entered the employ of Chambers & MeConnell, doing a general grain business. He remained in that connection until 1895, in which year he removed to Pullman and took charge of the Farmers Alliance Warehouse at that point. In 1897 he was employed by Chambers & Price in the capacity of grain buyer. Two years later he entered the employ of Aaron Kuhn, his duties being to pur- ehase grain in Pullman and Moscow. In 1901 he began working for the Kerr- Gifford Company. acting for them also in the capacity of buyer. He removed to Seattle two years later and entered into partnership with Palmerton, Harvey & Gentry in the grain business. He sold his interest the following year. however, and, returning to Pullman. entered the employ of the Puget Sound Warehouse Company as loeal representative, having sinee remained in that eapaeity. He is interested in several business concerns, being a stoekholder and director in the First National Bank, director and president of the Star Bottling Works and a stockholder in the Pullman Leo Fruit Products Company.
Mr. Gentry was married in Missouri, October 10, 1883, to Miss Mary I. Cunningham, a native of that state and a daughter of Joel B. and Martha (Kun- brough) Cunningham, both natives of Kentucky. To this union have been born two children: Ruby May, who remains at home; and Grover Cleveland, now liv- ing in Seattle.
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The political allegiance of Mr. Gentry is given to the democracy and he takes considerable interest in political matters, although he has never been an office seeker. He was a school trustee in Whelan, that being the only public position of a semi-political nature which he has occupied. Fraternally he is a member of the local Masonic lodge, having passed through all the chairs, and belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star and the Woodmen of the Workl. in both of which he has also filled all the chairs. Ile is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. of which he is a trustee.
There are many commendable traits of character possessed by Mr. Gentry which have served to ally him to the greater interests of the northwest. First of all he is possessed of absolute integrity, guarding carefully and well the large and varied interests which have been given into his charge. He is an indefatigable worker, his personality is genial and while loyalty to his employers has always characterized him he at the same time scrupulously safeguards the interests of the customers with whom, in the interest of his employers, he does business. During his comparatively long residence in Whitman county he has surrounded himself with a large circle of friends, with whom he is always a prime favorite. His lodge connections easily place him in the front rank among men connected with the fraternal circles of Whitman county, and in the interest of the order to which he belongs he is always active and aggressive. his labors being conducive to the material advancement and the beneficent influence exerted in the commu- nity by them.
EDWARD PITTWOOD, D. D. S.
One of the best known members of professional circles of Spokane is Dr. Edward Pittwood, who has the distinction of being the veteran dentist of the city, considered from the standpoint of years of continuous practice, having located here twenty-eight years ago. He was born in Iroquois county. Illinois, on the 12th of March, 1860, and is a son of L. N. and Maria ( Hookway) Pittwood. The parents were both natives of England and were direct descendants of the famous Saunders family. They are now deceased. the father, who was a physician, hav- ing passed away in 1897. while the mother's death occurred in 1867.
Dr. Pittwood was reared in his native state and acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of Watseka. Ilinois. Having decided to adopt the profession of dentistry for his life vocation he subsequently matriculated in the dental department of the University of Ohio and was awarded the degree of D. D. S. from that institution with the class of 1881. Hle first engaged in prac- tice in Kankakee, Ilinois, but two years later he decided to come to the north- west. and in 1883 opened an office in Spokane, where he has ever since followed his profession. The Spokane of that period bore little resemblance to the thriving city of today. and Dr. Pittwood is the only representative of his profession of that period who is still actively engaged in practice. He has met with success and is now located in the Hyde block, where he has pleasant and well equipped offices. He has always been one of the enthusiastic admirers of this city, in the upbuild- ing and development of which he has been a tireless worker, and it is in this con-
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nection in all probability he will be longest remembered. Much of what he has accomplished for the welfare of the community has never been attributed to him, as he is not self-assertive in any sense of the word nor has he ever sought public favor or honors. He is a very public-spirited man, whose rare sense of the re- sponsibilities of citizenship and the obligation it involves compels his loyalty and the conscientious fulfillment of every duty that will forward the development of the municipality.
In this city on the 14th of February, 1889, Dr. Pittwood was united in mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth Reed, a daughter of George H. and Harriet Reed, and to them have been born two children: Ann Lucille, who was graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and is now a member of the Shirley Stock Company of Spokane; and Edward H .. who is still attending school.
Dr. Pittwood has attained the rank of a Knight Templar in the Masonic fra- ternity, of which order he has been a member for thirty-one years, having been initiated in the spring of 1881. He votes the republican ticket but has never been an aspirant to official honors. He was for some years a member of the state board of dental examiners. All matters connected with his profession engage his attention and he was one of the organizers and the first vice president of the State Dental Society, and he is also affiliated with the Spokane County and State Dental Associations. He is also president of the Sprague Avenue Improvement Club and is one of the oldest continous members of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Pittwood was the first citizen to advocate grade separation to the Northern Pacific Railway and was in correspondence with President Elliot months before the general public was aware any steps were being taken to bring this about. He was likewise the one who first called public meetings of citizens to erect a concrete bridge across the Spokane river at Monroe street and made many public addresses on this subject with the result that last November saw the opening of the new Monroe street bridge, the longest span in the United States. Dr. Pittwood is held in high esteem in both the business and professional circles of Spokane, both by reason of his invaluable services to the city and his many fine, substantial personal qualities, the worth of which have been fully tested during the long period of his residence here.
FRANK MCCONNELL SLAGLE.
Frank MeConnell Slagle, president of the Palouse Country Improvement Com- pany and also of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce. is one of the city's most enterprising and public-spirited business men. He was born in Fairfield, Iowa, on the 3d of October. 1855, and is a son of Christian W. and Nancy MI. (Seward) Slagle, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Connecticut. His parents were both descended from colonial families, his maternal ancestors having participated in the Revolutionary war.
The early education of Frank McConnell Slagle was obtained in the public schools of his native town, after which he attended the State University at Iowa City, his student days being terminated at the age of nineteen years. He began his business career in 1874 as a bank clerk, his first position being with the First
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National Bank at Red Oak, Iowa. In January, 1875. he accepted a similar place in the Bank of Creston at Creston, Iowa. Later in the same year he removed to Perlec. Iowa, to become general manager of the Jefferson County Coal Company and he also had charge of the company's store and discharged the duties of post- master. Ile retained this position until 1879, when he went to Boston, Massachu- setts, and entered the Boston Law School and also read law in the office of the Honorable J. G. Abbott. He remained there only a short time. however, subse- quently going to Chicago, which was rapidly developing into one of the great comercial centers of the country, and engaged in the commission business. From there he went to the Black Hills as manager of the Alta Lodi Mining Company. and during the period of his connection with this enterprise he built a forty stamp quartz mill and a thome fourteen miles long.
As he had applied himself to business very steadily for several years, in An- gust. 1881. Mr. Slagle decided to go on a long vacation, so he went into the wilds of Montana among the Crow Indians, hunting buffalo and other big game. The following summer he returned to lowa and in July. 1882, together with others organized the firm of F. M. Slagle & Company of Alton, Iowa, dealers in lumber, grain and coal. Owing to his capable management the undertaking thrived from its incipiency, and they extended the scope of their activities until they had es- tablished eighteen lumber and coal yards and twelve elevators in northwestern Iowa and South Dakota. Mr. Slagle had the general management of this com- pany until 1902. when he was offered the position of dean of the Massachusetts College of Osteopathy. As he was most desirous of giving his children the benefit of the better educational advantages and broader culture of the east, he accepted the offer and removed his family to Brookline, Massachusetts, where he remained for six years. In 1906. he gave up his duties as dean and withdrew from all busi- ness and lived retired for two years, at the expiration of which time he came to Whitman county.
Mr. Single had always been much interested in this section of the country. recognizing that it afforded wonderful opportunities and advantages to the specu- lator, as its agricultural development has hardly yet begun. Before locating here he purchased eight hundred aeres of land six miles west of Pullman, and he has since acquired other realty interests. In January, 1909, together with others he organized the Palouse Country Improvement Company, of which he is president and general manager. They are engaged in promoting and developing orchard tracts and now have one hundred acres of eight-year orchard in the Grand Ronde valley, Oregon, in addition to another tract of the same size adjacent to Pullman, the latter set in the spring of 1912. In addition, Mr. Slagle is also dealing in lumber and coal.
In Illinois, on the 8th of December. 1886. Mr. Slagle was united in marriage to Miss Fannie E. Countryman of New York, a daughter of John H. Countryman. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Slagle, as follows: Helen, Vir- ginia and Christian Seward, all of whom are in Brookline, Massachusetts, where they are attending school.
The family are members of the Congregational church. In his political views Mr. Slagle is a republican, giving his support to the men and measures of that party. He is a member of the Grange and of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce and actively cooperates in promoting the work of both organizations. He is an
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excellent representative of the type of men to whose enterprise and progressive spirit the northwest is indebted for its rapid and permanent development. He would be an acquisition to any community because of the loyal and stanch support he gives to the municipality.
BENJAMIN BURGUNDER.
Many of the men who are now living retired in Colfax have spent their active careers in this county. They have been land owners, merchants and manufactur- ers and have done their share in the development of the country. Prominent among these is Benjamin Burgunder, whose birth occurred in New York on the 15th of April. 1845, and who is a son of Samuel and Fanny (Stenerman) Burgunder, both of whom were natives of Germany. In 1852 the parents removed to Cincinnati, and in that city Benjamin Burgunder acquired his edueation in the public schools. At the age of fifteen years he put aside his text-books and began earning his own livelihood. His first position was that of clerk in a wholesale leather store in Cincinnati. Two years later, in 1862. he drove across the plains to Portland. and after locating in that city was employed as elerk in a general store. In January, 1863, he went to The Dalles and in the same year came to Walla Walla. Washing- ton, finding again employment in a clerical capacity. In these positions he became very efficient in dealing with the public and handling merchandise and his ability won recognition when he was offered a position at Marcus in a general merchan- dise store and in 1865, took charge of a store for the same firm in Colville. The following year, 1866. he removed to the mining districts on the Columbia river and became a partner and aeted as manager of the store of Lamphere & Company. He conducted this establishment until 1868 when he removed to Perry Creek. British Columbia. where he engaged in business before returning in 1870 to Col- ville, and there also established a mercantile business. In December of the next year he went overland to Portland and accepted a position in that city which he held for two years before returning to Cincinnati in 1872 for a visit. In the autumn of that year he again came west, this time settling in Portland until the following year when he returned to Colville and again entered business in a gen- eral store. During the next three years he conducted stores both in Walla Walla and Colfax. At the end of that time he engaged independently in the general merchandise business under the name of Burgunder & Schwabacher. and in 1889 retired permanently from business. In the various positions he has held he re- ceived adequate returns for his labors, and by careful investments increased his capital to such an extent that at one time he was the owner of two thousand acres of valuable land.
On December 16, 1885, Mr. Burgunder was married to Miss Dora L. Lans- dale, of Eugene. Oregon, who is a daughter of Robert K. and Nancy H. (Calli- son ) Burgunder, natives of Kentucky and Illinois respectively. The father was a member of one of the many parties that went to the gold fields of California in 1849. To Mr. and Mrs. Burgunder three children were born: Samuel E. and Robert M., both residents of Colfax; and Leonard. who is living at home.
In politics Mr. Burgunder gives his support to the republican party, and in
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1882 served as councilman, being elected to the office on the citizens' ticket. He is a charter member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. For many years he has been very active in promoting the development of the Inland Empire and he is vice president of the Inland Empire Pioneer Association. Since 1894 he has been one of the most prominent citizens who have been working for the suc- cess of the Interstate Fair. His publie spiritedness and his ardent support of all progressive measures have made him one of the most prominent, influential and active citizens of Colfax. His retirement from the business world was a severe loss to the mercantile circles, and the respect and regard in which he was held while connected with them won him many lasting friends who now attest his worth.
JOHN EDMUND KENEDY.
Notable among that important and respected class of retired agriculturists, which the state of Washington in such numbers possesses, is John Edmund Kenedy, of Rosalia. Whitman county. He was born in Polk county. Oregon. February 1, 1855, his father being William Kenedy, who was born in North Carolina, and his mother. Sarah ( Richardson) Kenedy, a native of Illinois. The parents were among the hardy pioneers who in 1852 braved the long, tedious journey across the great American plains, driving from the state of Illinois to Oregon, where they took up their abode and where the remainder of their lives was passed.
John Edmund Kenedy was educated in the public schools of Oregon where he remained, alternating between assisting his father in farm work and carefully pur- suing his studies. until 1872. when he removed to Whitman county. Washington. and took up homestead and timber culture claims near Rosalia. The government land which he obtained in this manner comprised three hundred and twenty acres. In due time he received his patents from the government and continued working successfully on his farm until by the year 1900 he had increased his holdings to eight hundred and seventy acres of fine tillable land. Early in his farming career he began raising stock in considerable amounts, a practice which he continued up until about 1893. Since 1900 in connection with his farm work, which he has never abandoned. he engaged in mining to a large extent. Among mercantile cuter- prises conceived by Mr. Kenedy is the Pine Creck Dairy of Spokane, which he es- tablished in that year, and conducted until 1901, when he disposed of that interest. From 1871 until 1886 he was in partnership with Melville E. Choate and he had no individual holdings until after the dissolution of that partnership.
Mr. Kenedy was married at Waverly. Washington. September 28. 1887. to Miss Melissa J. Loy, who was born in Kansas and is a daughter of Samuel A. and Jane (MeCarthy ) Loy, natives of Pennsylvania and Michigan respectively. Mrs. Kenedy with her parents crossed the plains in covered wagons in 1882. By her marriage she became the mother of two children: Edith E .. now Mrs. Ella Stone. of Whit- man county ; and boy Melville, who remains at home with his parents. Politic- ally Mr. Kenedy is a republican of the independent type and has for four years been a member of the Rosalia city council. His fraternal athliations include mem- bership in the Odd Fellows lodge. in which he is an active worker who has filled all of the chairs. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World. the Farmers
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Union and the United Artisans. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kenedy are members of the Christian church wherein he is serving as a trustee.
As a son of the great northwest Mr. Kenedy is not unacquainted with those pioneer experiences which were so common and ofttimes hazardous in the early days. In his early manhood he assisted in the building of two stoekades for the protection of the white settlers against the Indians, one of these being located at Pine City and one below Rosalia. An active man throughout his business life, assisting greatly in the building up of the communities in which he lived, active in eivie and fraternal as well as business eireles. he has by his earnest, well directed efforts long since become recognized as one of the prominent, valued and most highly respected citizens of Whitman county.
JAMES BARRETT HOLT.
The tendeney of the age is toward specialization. Investigation has broad- ened knowledge to such an extent that it would be impossible for any individual to know all there is to be known eoneerning any seienee, profession or industrial interest of the world. After gaining a knowledge of the general principles the individual may carry his study to a high degree of perfection in special lines and attain therein a profieieney which would be impossible under other eirenmstanees. Such a course has James B. Holt followed, becoming recognized as an able or- ehardist. He is engaged in this pursuit near Pullman, Whitman county. His birth occurred at Anderson Court House. South Carolina, September 21, 1851, his parents being Alfred and Harriet (Thomas) Holt, natives of Tennessee and South Carolina respectively.
James B. Holt pursued his early education in the publie schools of South Carolina. In 1861 his parents removed to Marietta, Georgia, and he entered the schools of that eity. In the spring of 1866 his parents eame to Oregon by way of New York. Isthmus of Panama and San Francisco, and after settling in Linn county, Oregon, James Holt again entered the publie schools. His term here, however, lasted but three months. The following year he undertook to assist his father in his agricultural pursuits and gained some knowledge of the duties and intrieaeies of farm eulture. He remained at home thus employed until 1871 when he. in company with his parents, went to Rebel Flat three miles south of Colfax. There he took up a one hundred and sixty aere homestead elaim, a preemption elaim of one hundred and sixty acres and eighty aeres timber land. He devoted his time to developing this property while he was proving it up, and it was his home until 1877. When he came to this country he had brought horses and eat- tle with him, and in 1877, in partnership with his father, he engaged in stoek dealing, trading horses and cows for sheep. Previously, in the winter of 1875, when he had one hundred head of eattle he lost all but fifteen. In 1878 he en- gaged in the horse business on Union Flat and three years later removed to Wa- wawai on the Snake river where he. in partnership with J. B. Tabor, purchased four hundred acres and put out sixty aeres of peaches, plums, prunes, apricots, cherries, apples and grapes. He continued to cultivate and improve this land
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until 1889 when he formed a corporation which purchased the adjoining land until they controlled one thousand acres. As he took the initiative in incorporat- ing this company he was subsequently given charge of its management, and much of the productivity of this property, two hundred and fifty acres of which is planted to fruit trees, is due to his efforts. He remained there until the panic of 1893 when they lost so heavily that they were compelled to dispose of the prop- erty and after that transaction Mr. Holt had but three hundred dollars as capital with which to start in business again. The corporation had been composed in part of J. A. Perkins, W. J. Hamilton. Dr. Mitchell and I. H. Spalding. In 1891 Mr. Holt removed to Albion, Washington, rented a small place and began to raise hogs, chickens and garden truck. This enterprise was conducted on a very small seale, but as rapidly as his resources allowed he added to the prop- erty and stock until in 1896, when he removed to Pulhnan, Washington, and opened a small commission house. In these various undertakings he had tried to regain his former fortune and in 1901 was able to purchase twenty-five aeres adjoining Pulhoan and planted it in orchard. He continued developing this prop- erty and met with such success that in 1910 he sold six thousand boxes of apples and is now one of the leading small orchardists of Pullman county. But he has not contined his attention wholly to agricultural pursuits, but is associated with the leading business-men of Pullman and is stockholder. director and vice presi- dent of the Star Bottling & Manufacturing Company, and a stockholder in the Leo Fruit Produce Company.
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