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 51
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Harrison Rich was united in marriage to Jenetta MeCoy, who was born at Millville, Shasta county. California, and was a daughter of James McCoy, a 't9er who died when Jenetta was a little child. The MeCoys came from Scotland right after the Revolutionary war, were early residents of Hlinois and afterward pioneers of California. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Rich are now residents of Jolon, that state. Their son, Henry Leland, is engaged in the stock business in Monterey county, California. Their three daughters are: Victoria, residing at Gilroy, Santa Clara county, California, where she is engaged in the automobile business; Lydia, the wife of Edward Sands, a lumberman of Monterey county, that state; and Flos- sie, who makes her home in Sacramento.
The other member of the family is H. W. Rich, whose name introduces this review. He supplemented his high-school course, pursued at Santa Cruz. Cali- fornia, by study in the Standford University, becoming a pupil in the law depart- ment. He afterward studied law with John H. Leonard, of Santa Cruz. and with Carl A. Lindsay, of San Francisco, and was admitted to practice at the bar of California in 1905. Ile then opened an office in San Francisco, continuing alone in general practice until December, 1908, when he came to Spokane. He had already won recognition as an able and resourceful lawyer of wide knowledge and com- prehensive familiarity with the principles of jurisprudence. He was called to this city to take up the Marble ercek cases against the state of Idaho and the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, involving approximately one hundred settlers and sixteen thousand acres of land. He successfully prosecuted these cases before the department of the interior and on the 2d of March, 1910, the state of Idaho decided to show cause why the Marble creek cases should not be opened with a view to determining the validity of the case used by the state for the selections of the lands in con- troversy. On the 16th of June the state made its appearance before the depart- ment of the interior, at which time Mr. Rich appeared and protested the case of the settlers, a final decision being rendered December 2, 1910, in favor of the settlers and against the state of Idaho. It was one of the largest land cases ever tried in the northwest and the amount actually involved was nine million dollars. It would have been a signal victory for any lawyer and was especially so for one as young as Mr. Rich. He took the cases in hand and carried them to a success- ful conclusion when it looked like a fost case, and when other attorneys had re- fused to conduct the litigation. These settlers are not perfecting their titles to the land and the government has set aside four townships as lien land selections to take the place of the land fost.
On the 16th of June, 1910, while in Washington, D. C., Mr. Rich assisted Senator Poindexter in preparing house resolution No. 807 for the investigation of land frauds in Idaho. It is thought that this house resolution had a great deal of weight with the department of the interior and caused immediate investigation. It was the cause of the releasing of the Marble ereck lands. During the last four or five years of his practice Mr. Rich has specialized in government land matters and today is the largest practitioner in the department of land law in the north- west. His opinions have come to be accepted as authority upon such questions and his work has shown him notably strong in this fickt.
On the 9th of September. 1905, Mr. Rich was united in marriage to Miss Adeline De Martine, a daughter of Joseph De Martine, a California pioncer from
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New York. They have already gained enviable social recognition during the brief period of their residence in Spokane.
Mr. Rich is a republican and was active in Senator Poindexter's election. He has been delegate to both county and state conventions in San Francisco county, California, but has never desired nor held public office. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and is actively and helpfully interested in its projects and in all the improvements which elicit the attention and aid of public-spirited citizens.
DUNCAN J. MACGILLIVRAY.
The term a "self-made" man is perhaps trite but is also expressive and in its best sense it finds exemplification in the life of Duncan J. MacGillivray, who, start- ing out in life with only the asset of a common-school education, has won for him- self a creditable name and place in business circles. now operating largely in real estate in the northwest with offices in Spokane. He was born in Ontario, Canada, February 5, 1866, and is a son of Duncan A. and Mary (MacLellan) MacGillivray. The father was born in Canada, representing an old Scotch family whose genealogy is traced back to 1251. They were one of the leading clans of Scotland and won fame on the battlefield of Culloden. In many other connections the name figures prominently as representatives of the family took active part in defending the in- terests of the country or in upholding the name and honor of the clan. Duncan A. MacGillivray became a pioneer farmer and lumberman of Canada, being actively connected with the lumber business on the Ottawa river for a number of years. He also held different offices and positions of public trust in Canada. He died in 1902. His wife, who was born in Ontario, died in 1892. She represented one of the early families of Canada of Scotch lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan A. MacGillivray were parents of four sons and three daughters. Andrew residing at Ottawa, Canada. Dan, who is engaged in the lumber business in Wisconsin. Duncan J. and Ken- neth who was drowned in the Ottawa river in 1888. The daughters, Christy Ann and Mary died in childhood. Adeline, now Mrs. MacIntyre, resides in Mon- treal, Canada.
Mr. MacGillivray's connection with the northwest dates from the fall of 1897 when he arrived in Lewiston, Idaho. The following year he embarked in business there as a dealer in furniture and house furnishings. He began with a small store and stock, but such was his energy and capable management that when he sold out in 1909 he was the foremost representative of this line of trade in that state. He had improved and enlarged his establishment until it was the best furniture store in Idaho and his success was known throughout the northwest. While he won suc- cess in his commercial undertaking he also found time and opportunity to cooperate in movements for the general good, taking an active part in the upbuilding of the community, serving for eight years as a director of the Chamber of Commerce and as its president during the last year of his residence there. He also served as a di- rector of the fair association for six years and then as president for one year, tak- ing part in all of the projects for its development, giving largely of his time, energy and money in promoting the interests of the community.
DUNCAN J. MACGILLIVRAY
IRRARY
LENOX ATIONS
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In the spring of 1910 Mr. MaeGillivray came to Spokane, where he has since engaged in the real-estate business, buying and selling property for himself and others. He is connected and represents, in the northwest. several of the largest Canadian companies, who are promoting and developing the unlimited resources of western Canada, especially British Columbia. He believes and is enthusiastic about the future of the Inland Empire and since coming to this city, has invested heavily in Spokane real estate. He is thoroughly acquainted with real-estate values in the northwest and the outlook of the real-estate market, and the spirit of progressive- ness which he brings to his business is contributing not only to his individual suc- cess but also to the development of this section of the country.
On the 26th of December, 1900, at Spokane, Mr. MacGitlivray was married to Miss Schaeffer, who was a daughter of an lowa merchant, now deceased, and is a descendant of Captain Wadsworth's family. They have become parents of three children, Marion, Duncan John, Jr., and John Duncan, the eldest being nine years of age. The family attend the Presbyterian church and Mr. MacGillivray is iden- tified with various fraternal organizations, being now a chapter Mason, (his member- ship in lodge and chapter being in Wisconsin), and a Knight Templar of Lewiston Commandery. He is also connected with the Elks lodge and belongs likewise to the Woodmen of the World. In polities he is connected with the progressive wing of the Republican party but has declined all political advancement, preferring that his publie service shall be done as a private citizen and in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce. He stands today a strong man-strong in his honor and his good name, strong in his ability to plan and perform, and is regarded as one of the influential residents of Spokane.
WALTER H. WISCOMBE.
The word of Walter H. Wiscombe concerning the history of Spokane may largely be accepted as authority because he has witnessed the greater part of the growth and development of the city and in a number of instances has been a very important factor in its progress and upbuilding. He laid the first rails for street car service here, has been a leading factor in the business activity and in public office has given practical and tangible demonstration of his loyalty and patriotic spirit.
Mr. Wiscombe is a native of England, his birth having occurred in Dorset- shire, on the 24th of September, 1813. His parents were William and Mary Wis- combe, who were also natives of England, in which country the mother passed away in 1817. Emigrating to America, the father became a farmer of Kansas and ultimately established his home in Spokane, where his death afterward oc- curred. A brother and a sister of Walter H. Wiscombe are still living, the former, Harry, being now a resident farmer of Kansas, in which state another brother passed away. The sister, Jane, is the wife of Harker English, who follows agri- cultural pursuits in the Sunflower state.
Walter H. Wiscombe was a lad of eight years at the time the family sailed from England for the new world and his education was, therefore, largely acquired in the schools of Kansas. He was but eighteen years of age at the time of the
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outbreak of the Civil war, and soon afterward he enlisted for service with the Union army, joining Company MI, of the Eleventh Kansas Cavalry. He was wounded in the battle of Little Blue, Missouri, at the time General Price was undertaking to raid Kansas. in the fall of 1864. He served with the western army in the battles of Lexington, Missouri, and Little Rock and remained in active duty until honorably discharged by reason of the expiration of his term of enlistment. Mr. Wiscombe then returned to his father's farm and assisted in its further development and cultivation until 1870, when he established a home of his own in his marriage, on the 23d of February of that year. to Miss Jennie Jolly, a daughter of John Jolly, a farmer of Kansas, who was previously a Methodist minister and belonged to an old southern family. Mr. and Mrs. Wiscombe have two sons: William Fred, who is now married and is a member of the United States army, serving for four years as post master and now stationed at Philadelphia; and William C., who for the past four years has been employed in the collection department of the Washington Water Power Company.
Following his marriage Mr. Wiseombe purchased a farm in Kansas but after two years disposed of that property and went to Sonoma county, California. There he engaged in the grocery business for four years and on the 22d of May, 1879, eame to Spokane. The settlement here was small but gave indications of rapid growth and Mr. Wiscombe began work at the carpenter's trade, which he fol- lowed as a contractor and builder for twenty years. He erected the first planing mill ever built in Spokane and his wife established the first millinery store of the city. He also built the first street railway and laid the first iron rails ever put down here, beginning the work on Hemlock street in Browne's addition and extending to Wall street, then known as Mill street. This was a horse car line, standard gauge, the franchise being owned by J. J. Browne, A. M. Cannon and A. J. Ross, while Mr. Wiscombe was superintendent in full charge.
In a number of local offices Mr. Wiscombe has proven his worth and abil- ity. The first office to which he was called was that of member of the first board of public works under Mayor Fotheringham. In the fall of 1891 he was elected eity treasurer on the republican ticket, retiring at the end of the term but was re- elected a year later-in 1893. The first year he put up a seven hundred and fifty thousand dollar bond, the largest personal bond ever given by an individual in Spokane up to that time. This was during the great reconstruction period follow- ing the fire. Following his retirement from the treasurer's office he was appointed a member of the board of public works by Mayor Belt and served in that capacity for three years. He next went to Marshall, where he purchased the Marshall Flour Mill, which he owned for several years, selling out about 1899. He then turned his attention to the feed business, in which he was engaged, entering that field of trade in connection with W. E. Pieree under the firm name of Pierce & Wiscombe. Later he was a partner in the firm of P. Morrison & Company. His attention is now confined solely to a wholesale hay and grain business and during the past eight years he has limited his operations exclusively to the coast, finding a ready market on the seaboard for all that he handles. In earlier days he was a director of the Exchange National Bank when it was organized, taking ten thou- sand dollars worth of stock in the bank.
Mr. Wiscombe has always given his political allegiance to the republican party and has attended nearly all the city, county and state conventions during his resi-
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denee in Spokane. He has also served as a member of the city and county central committees and was formerly very actively interested in politics. For forty years he has been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, has held every state office within its gift and is now a retired department commander of Washington, having retired at Wenatchee in June. 1911. Ile also belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity, holding membership in Spokane Lodge, No. 34, F. & A. M .; Cataract Com- mandery, No. 3, K. T .; and EI Katif Temple of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In the blue lodge he has held several of the offices. He likewise belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in which he has filled all of the chairs, including that of master workman. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Order of the Eastern Star, of which Mrs. Wiscombe is a past matron and an active worker. Mr. Wiscombe belongs to the Pioneer Society of Spokane and both he and his wife are numbered among the carly and honored residents of the city, the growth and development of which they have witnessed almost from the period of its earliest inception. Their acquaintance is wide, their friends are many and the part which they have taken in the upbuilding of the city entitles them to more than passing recognition.
CHARLES HI. ARNOLD.
Charles H. Arnold, who is residing on his ranch near Loon Lake, Washington. was born in Augusta, Maine, on the 25th of December, 1817. his parents being John and Alameda (Butts) Arnokl, the former of whom passed away in 1881 and the latter in 1900. The father was a prominent citizen of Augusta. Maine. and was affiliated with the First Republican Club when James G. Blaine was one of the foremost statesmen of the United States.
Charles H. Arnold acquired his education in the common schools of Augusta and subsequently attended the Dirego Business College until he was seventeen years of age, when he served in Company E. Fourteenth Maine Volunteers. He was mustered out at Darien, Georgia, on September 15, 1865. At that time he removed to Fort Benton. Montana, and accepted employment with the North- west Fur Company. After a short time he gave up this position and for the fol- lowing year was engaged in mining in that state, after which he removed to Colorado and started a trading post with the Ute Indians on Bear river, near Elkhead. He remained in that locality until 1873, when he went over into Ne- vada and for a year was employed in the mines of that state before he went far- ther west to California. where he worked on a railroad until 1879. In that year he came to the state of Washington and was employed by Sprague & Fairweather, merchants of Ainsworth. for whom he had charge of the commissaries in various railroad construction camps. He remained in this position until the Northern Pacific Railway was completed as far as Cheney, when he took up the handling of freight from Cheney to Spokane and transported the Spokane Chronicle into Spokane and also the dynamite that was used for the Northern Pacific. This latter was an undertaking which called for considerable pluck, and many others had previously refused to do it. About this time he took up a preemption claim on the Little Spokane river and after having proved it up disposed of it and re-
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moved to Loon Lake, where he purchased a half section of railroad land, which he still owns. In addition to his property holdings for personal cultivation he also has a one-fourth interest in the Loon Lake Improvement Company, of which he is vice president.
On September 13, 1880, Mr. Arnold was married to Miss Laura E. Dyer, of Spokane Falls, and they are the parents of four children: John H .; Charles F .; Ralph R., who married Gertrude Smith; and Earl Edwin. In politics Mr. Arnold gives his support to the democratic party. He was the first postmaster of Loon Lake and because of his interest in the educational development of the district served as school director for many years. Because of personal prejudices and beliefs he does not hold membership in secret societies or social organizations. He is justly accorded a place among the prominent representative citizens of Loon Lake, for he belongs to that class of men whose enterprising spirit is used not only for their own benefit but also for the general good and public prosperity.
GRENVILLE HOLBROOK.
In the later years of his life Grenville Holbrook was a resident of Spokane and prior to 1899 was well known in the Inland Empire because of his active operations in real estate and in banking, in which connections he bore an untar- nished reputation, his business ability and sagacity being supplemented by un- assailable integrity. In the year 1863 his parents, Jesse and Mary Ann (Hol- brook ) Holbrook, crossed the plains from Kentucky, their son Grenville being at that time a youth of thirteen years. The other member of the family was a second son, Glidden Holbrook, then eleven years of age, who afterward followed his older brother to Whitman county and was drowned in Clearwater river while on a prospecting trip in 1894. While enroute for the northwest the family were stricken with smallpox, the grandmother becoming totally blind as a result of the disease. She is still living, making her home near Vancouver, Washington. The father, Jesse Holbrook, passed away in 1891.
The family residence was first established on a farm near Vancouver, Wash- ington, but when nineteen years of age Grenville Holbrook went to Walla Walla and was employed by former United States Senator Ankeny. In 1870 he re- moved to Whitman county and engaged in sheep-raising on what is known as Union Flats, following that pursuit for a number of years. He sold out for about twenty thousand dollars and the money was all paid over in cash, the transaction taking place in the open right under the trees on the ranch. In 1880 he estab- lished his home at Colfax and two years later formed a partnership with Alfred Coolidge for the establishment of the Second National Bank of Colfax, of which he continued as a director for a number of years. The other incorporators were Messrs. Bragg. Holbrook, Wade and McClaine, the last named now the president of the Traders National Bank of Spokane. After the bank was opened and the business placed upon a substantial basis. Mr. Holbrook turned his attention to still other interests, purchasing the H. H. Warner mill of Colfax, which he op- erated for a time and then sold. He removed to Garfield, Whitman county, in 1884, and with Mr. Coolidge organized the Bank of Garfield, of which the latter
GRENVILLE HOLBROOK
ADY
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became president while Mr. Holbrook accepted the position of vice president. Moreover, they dealt extensively in real estate, having secured some three thou- sand acres of land, and in this undertaking they were also associated with the Hon. J. C. Lawrence. At length their land was placed upon the market and sold and the year 1897 witnessed their extensive operations in the Republic mining camp. From 1899 until 1903 Mr. Holbrook made his home in Spokane but in his later years traveled quite largely, making several trips to Mexico where on one occasion he was received by President Diaz. He was heavily interested in the first sugar refinery that was ever built in Mexico and that his investments were always judiciously made is indicated by the success which ultimately crowned his labors. bringing him to a creditable position in the ranks of those whose labors won for them a fortune. He was the founder of Kendrick, Idaho, and there con- traeted to build the railroad and bought the right-of-way through several towns for the Northern Pacific.
On the 12th of April, 1871. in Colfax. Mr. Holbrook was married to Miss Lc- titin Ensley, who died there February 8. 1879, and was the first person buried in Johnson cemetery just outside of Colfax. Her parents had been the first to bring stock to Whitman county. Mr. and Mrs. Holbrook had two children: George E., now living in Spokane; and Elizabeth Grace, the wife of Ralph B. Sells, of this city. In 1889 Mr. Holbrook married Miss Jessie Ward of Vancouver. Washington, and to them were born three children: Myrtle, who married Allen E. Ranson, an electrical engineer, and they now reside in Seattle; Noah N .; and Earl.
Mr. Holbrook always voted with the democratic party and was prominent as one of its counselors but never sought the rewards of office in recognition of party fealty. His name certainly deserves a place upon the pages of Washington's his- tory as one, whose residence in the state dates from 1863 and who was, moreover, a pioneer of the Inland Empire. He died on May 6, 1909, and was laid to rest in Greenwood cemetery. He not only saw an opportunity for establishing good business enterprises but utilized such opportunities for -the benefit of the public as well as for himself. He sustained an enviable reputation in business circles, his enterprise and reliability commanding him uniform confidence and high regard.
HON. WARREN W. TOLMAN.
The work of Hon. Warren W. Tolman in connection with securing the passage of the railroad commission bill would alone entitle him to representation in this volume as a citizen whose labors have been of direct and substantial benefit to Spokane and the state. In other connections, however. he is almost equally well known and now enjoys a large clientage as an able attorney practicing before the Spokane bar. He was born in Kendall county, Illinois, December 7, 1861. his parents being Charles W. and Sarah ( Haigh) Tolman, of that county. The father was a prosperous farmer of Illinois and, spending his youthful days in his parents' home, Warren W. Tohan was accorded the usual educational privileges of a farmer's son of that day. He pursued his early studies in the district schools and the high school in Aurora, Illinois, and afterward attended the Northwestern Uni- versity of Chicago, where he obtained his legal education. He was graduated in
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1887. after which he was admitted to the bar and at onee entered upon the practice of law in Chicago, where he remained for about five years, or until 1892. when, thinking that a change of elimate might prove beneficial to his wife's health, he came to Spokane. In the intervening period, covering nearly twenty years, he has praetieed his profession here and his ability as a lawyer is widely recognized.
His professional standing is evidenced by a substantial practice which eon- tinues to grow from year to year. and is further manifest in the fact that, in 1906. without any effort or solicitation upon his part, and in fact, over his protest and in his absence. the democratic state convention nominated him for judge of the supreme court. He was not elected because his party was in the minority. but he led the whole democratie state tieket in the number of votes received in every quarter of the state and this too, after a campaign in which he never attended a meeting, solicited a vote. contributed a eent. or even left his office to take any part. and, in fact, he effaeed himself entirely as far as the campaign was concerned and the vote eame wholly without effort or solicitation on his part. That the democrats of the state did not feel that they were mistaken in making the nomination was evideneed four years later, when, in 1910, he was again made their nominee for the same office and also by the state convention of a non-partisan judiciary league. Again on election day he made a creditable showing.
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