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 76
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EDWIN SYLVESTER BURGAN.
Edwin Sylvester Burgan, president of the First National Bank, has been prom- inently identified with various business enterprises of Pullman for the past fifteen years. His birth occurred in Wooster, Ohio, on the 1st of April. 1849, his parents being George and Sarah (Widmer) Burgan. also natives of the Buckeye state, whenee they removed to Indiana in 1819.
As he was only an infant when his parents left Ohio, Edwin Sylvester Burgan was reared in Indiana, to whose publie schools he is indebted for his education. His stu- dent days were terminated at the age of fourteen years. in 1863, when he laid aside his text-books and began his business career as a clerk in a store at Bluffton, Indiana. He severed this connection two years later and returned to the farm, where he en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until 1867, when he again took up clerking. In 1870 he came to Waitsburg. Washington, and for two years thereafter sold goods for Paine Bros .. Preston Bros. & Company. At the expiration of that time he returned to Indiana on a visit. remaining there until 1874 when he removed to Danville, Illi- nois. There he was engaged in the grain business for two years, following which he and a Mr. Gregg established a wholesale and retail eroekery store under the firm name of Gregg & Burgan. They conducted this until 1878. when they went into the milling business, their plant being operated under the name of D. Gregg & Company. Two years later he engaged in the grain brokerage business. continuing in this until the spring of 1882. when he returned to Waitsburg and took a clerkship in the Pio- neer Supply Depot until 1889. In the latter year he went to Spokane and became
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identified with the firm of M. Seller & Company, wholesale and retail crockery deal- ers. The following year he withdrew from his position and engaged in a general merchandise business at Latah, Spokane county. This was conducted under the name of E. S. Burgan until 1896, when he removed to Pullman and went into partnership with C. P. Jordan. Two years later Mr. Burgan became sole proprietor of the busi- ness, which he conducted under his own name until 1900 when he took his son desse W. into partnership. the firm name being changed to E. S. Burgan & Son. In 1906 this enterprise was incorporated under the name of The Burgan Emerson Company, with Mr. Burgan as president. A capable business man of enterprising and pro- gressive methods. Mr. Burgan has not confined his activities to mercantile pursuits, but has been instrumental in organizing and promoting various undertakings since becoming a resident of Whitman county. He is now president of the First National Bank of this city and the Loan & Savings Association and after serving as president of the latter for six years he resigned in 1911. He is likewise president of the Bur- gan & Springer Hat Company of Portland, and formerly was president of the Brecz, Burgan & Rural Telephone Company. His determination of spirit, resourcefulness and powers of organization have been the dominating factors in his business career. enabling him to carry to a successful issue anything he undertakes. During the fif- teen years of his residence in Pullman, Mr. Burgan has become recognized as a man of sound judgment and sagacity, whose official connection with any enterprise is sufficient guarantee of its success.
On the 22d of November. 1876. Mr. Burgan was married to Miss Emma Hefley of Indiana, and to them has been born a son. Jesse Widmer, who is a resident of Pullman. Mr. Burgan is a member of the board of trustees of the Methodist Epis- copal church, with which his wife is also identified, and he likewise belongs to Pull- man Lodge, No. 19. A. F. & A. M. He votes the republican ticket and has formerly represented his ward in the local council for several terms. Everything that Mr. Burgan undertakes is directed with energy and enterprise, as he is convinced that every individual possesses the power to dominate the conditions surrounding him if he but wields it in an intelligent manner, concentrating his efforts upon the attain- ment of a definite purpose.
JOHN WILLIAM HIGGINS.
John W. Higgins. of the Higgins-Brooks Company, was born in Portland, Ore- gon. July 11, 1859, a son of William L. and Mary Elizabeth (Scott) Higgins. The father, whose birth occurred in Rhode Island, came to Oregon in 1832. via Cape Horn and was one of the early settlers in Portland. At the time he left home he ran away with his brother Louis, who however, remained on land when William 1 .. boarded the ship for his western trip. They never saw or heard from each other since. Mr. W. L. Higgins was a carpenter and builder and assisted in erecting the Portland postoffice. He was always prominent in politics. His death occurred in 1907. The mother, who was of Scotch descent, crossed the plains to Oregon about 1849. Her birth occurred in Kentucky from which state her family removed west- ward, first going to Missouri. Her death occurred in 1905. To their union six chil- dren were born: Frank D. and James A., both of whom are residing in Portland;
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John W., who is the subject of this review ; Aliee S. and Mrs. Harry Hall, residents of Portland; and Mrs. William B. Addy, of Waterloo, Iowa.
John W. Higgins was reared under the parental roof and pursued his education in the publie schools and high schools of Portland. Upon putting aside his text-books he aeeepted a position with Knapp-Burrell & Company, dealers in farm machinery and implements. After remaining in their employ in Portland for four years he en- tered their office at Colfax where he remained six years, at the end of which time he beeame assistant cashier of the Sceond National Bank of Colfax and was thus engaged for eleven years. Mr. Higgins has been a resident of this city since 1901. As soon as he took up his residence here he engaged in the mining business, and during his ten years' connection with this enterprise has promoted many properties. He is in- terested in the Alaska eopper property and south Idaho gold property. At present he is seeretary of the Idaho Richmond Gold Mines Company, the Bonanza Silver, & Lead Mining Company, and the Nez Peree Orogrande of Orogrande, Idaho. All these properties are under development, and are becoming highly profitable enter- prises. His ability in developing these mining properties, to which he gives his en- tire time and attention, is fast winning him sueeess and reeognition as one of the foremost promoters of the northwest.
Politieally Mr. Higgins gives his support to the republican party, and is thor- oughly alive to the issues of the day but has never sought office as a reward for party fealty. Depending upon his own resonrees from an early age he has lived a life of industry, and whatever has been his sneeess is the result of his well directed diligence and labor.
REV. SAMUEL G. HAVERMALE.
What a long procession there would be if all could be summoned upon whose lives the Rev. Samnel G. Havermale had a direet influence for good! He devoted many years to the ministry and while he ever had one hand up-reaching toward the high ideals and principles which he cherished, the other hand was ever down- reaching in sympathy and help to those whom he attempted to bring to his own high level. The qualities of sympathy and friendship were strongly his and made him a favorite wherever he was known. His name is inseparably associated with the history of Spokane, inasmuch as he was the first minister who ever preached to the white inhabitants of this town and was otherwise eonneeted with events which are now matters of history here. His birth occurred near Sharpsburg, Maryland, October 15, 1824, his parents being Peter and Marie (Gardner) Havermale, both of whom eame of Holland aneestry but were born in this country. There were eight children in their family, seven sons and a daughter, and the birthplace of the Rev. Samuel G. Havermale was on the ground where the battle of Antietam afterward took place. He was but seven years of age when in 1831 his parents removed to the foothills of South Mountain, settling near Hagerstown, Maryland. Two years later they erossed the Alleghanies to what was then the far west, establishing their home in Montgomery eonnty, Ohio, where the boy grew to man- hood upon the home farm, experiencing the usual conditions and hardships ineident to the development of a new farm in a frontier distriet. He was twenty years
S. G. HAVERMALE
DR. B. F. BURCH
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J IVA. ONI
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of age when in 1844 the family removed to Fulton county, Illinois, and there he entered business life as a salesman in a store and also embraced the opportunity of further promoting his own education by attending the public schools and after- ward the Rock River Seminary. He always displayed aptitude in his studies but his early advantages were very limited, owing to the primitive condition of the schools in Ohio. Just before he left that state he took part in a spelling match in which a prize was offered, and after an exciting contest he won the prize from his cousin, Helen Havermale. The prize was a history of the explorations of Lewis and Clarke to the northwest and its perusal awakened in him a desire to come to this country, which he carried out in later life. In Illinois he engaged in teaching school for a time and also entered actively upon the work of the ministry in that state. lle was licensed as a preacher of the Methodist church a short time before his marriage but was not assigned to a regular charge until September, 1852, when Bishop Ames appointed him to the Ridott circuit in the Rock river conference, which circuit then embraced portions of Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties of Illinois. For twenty-one years Rev. S. G. Havermale continued in the work of the ministry in northern Hinois save for a brief period in 1863, when by appointment of President Lincoln he served as a member of the Christian commission, being on duty at Vicksburg. Mississippi, among the soldiers and returning prisoners from southern prisons. Even at that time he did not cease preaching, delivering ser- mons at various points, often as many as tive a day. He then returned to his labors in Illinois, where he remained until 1873.
The Rev. Havermale saw the fulfillment of his long cherished hope to come to the northwest when on the 22d of September, 1873, he was transferred to the Columbia river conference and assigned to the pastorate of the Methodist church at Walla Walla, then the leading town of the Inland Empire. He was made pre- siding elder by Bishop Merrill the following year and, his duties called him to all parts of eastern Washington and Oregon and to portions of Idaho. On journey- ing from Walla Walla to Colville he lost his way in the vicinity of Medical Lake and. following false directions, arrived at Spokane Falls. Thus by chance he came to the city where on the 14th of November, 1875, he preached the first sermon delivered to a congregation of white people, services being held in a small box house just west of the present city hall site. Twenty-five years later the Method- ists celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of that event. Mr. Havermale preach- ing the sermon on that occasion. He was charmed with the little town which he inadvertently visited and removed his family to this place from Walla Walla, tak< ing up a homestead claim which covered the districts now included in the Haver- male addition, the Havermale sceond addition, the River Front addition, Pitt wood's addition, the Keystone addition and the Spokane river and islands from Division street to Mill street. Nearly all of this property he sold at good prices, which brought him a handsome competence.
While Mr. Havermale continued to preach the gospel and labored untiringly for the moral progress of the community, he also aided in its material development and its public affairs, recognizing the fact that the minister is not to hold himself aloof but is to take part in those things which constitute life and its experiences and in such surroundings make his own example and precepts a permeating in- Anence for good. He was associated with George A. Davis in building the original Echo flouring mills, thus installing the first full roller process in Washington. Ile Vol. III-36
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also served as president of the first town board of trustees, during which adminis- tration the fine system of water works was established.
It was in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, on the 1st of November, 1849, that Mr. Havermale was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Goldthorp and unto them were born three children two of whom still survive: Laura V., the wife of Dr. B. F. Burch, of Spokane; and Schuyler S., who is now a stoekman of San Diego county, California. Wilbur died in San Diego about fifteen years ago. There are also five grandchildren living in Spokane: Mrs. John W. Graham, W. G. Burch, Mrs. S. B. Slee, Lita and Carl Burch. The great-grandchildren are, Wallace Spoor Burch, Mollie Graham, Watford Slee, Bettie Slee, Fred Slee and Bennie Burch.
The Rev. Havermale continued a resident of Spokane until 1887, when failing health caused him to seek a change of climate and he went to San Diego, Cali- fornia. In 1898, however, he returned to Spokane, where he resided np to the time of his death, which oceurred January 13, 1904, and was buried in Fairmount ceme- tery. He was almost eighty years of age when he passed away and among his possessions were the "blest accompaniments of age-honors, riches, troops of friends." He was always a man of scholarly tastes and habits, and his reading was particularly broad and, combined with his experiences, gave him keen insight into human nature and thus qualified him particularly to help his fellowmen by speaking a word in season or extending a helping hand when needed. Human sympathy was one of his salient characteristies and combined with keen intelli- gence in enabling him to uplift humanity. He left his impress for good upon Spokane, the city and its people, and his memory is tenderly cherished by those who knew him.
JOHN F. COSTELLO.
John F. Costello, who is a prominent contractor of Spokane, with offices in the Hutton building, was born in Ontario, Canada, on the 15th of December, 1864, his parents being Martin and Anna J. (Fulton) Costello. The father's death occurred in 1896 and the mother is still residing in Alexandria, Ontario.
John F. Costello received his edneation in the publie sehols of Ontario and there pursued the consecutive courses of study until he was seventeen years of age. At that time he began his independent eareer by aceepting employment as telegraph operator for the Grand Trunk Railroad in various parts of Ontario. Subsequently he became associated with the Canadian Pacific Railroad at Montreal and Ottawa and was later transferred by this company to different parts of Manitoba. When he was twenty years of age he began working for the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway at Minneapolis as telegraph operator and remained with them until 1887, when he removed to Montana and for two years was engaged in that state in contraeting work with his brother, Peter Costello, before coming to Spokane, where he followed the same line of work until 1894. In that year. because of the business depression eaused by the recent panie, he gave up his contracting business and again followed teleg- raphy. He was employed by both the Union Pacific Railroad in Oregon and the
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Western Union Telegraph Company at Portland. Later he worked in Nelson, British Columbia, for a short time as agent for the Spokane Falls & Northern Railroad and a few months later he located at Northport, Washington, where he was United States eustoms agent. During this time he became associated with the Northport Smelting & Refining Company and for six years was in their employ before returning to Spo- kane and again engaging in the contracting business with his brother, Peter, until the death of the latter on the Ist of November, 1906. He has met with remarkable success in his undertakings and has been one of the most prominent contractors of the city for the past five years, doing the work on Rockwood addition in Lincoln with ten miles of streets and twenty miles of sidewalks.
Mr. Costello has been twice married. His first union occurred at Northport, Washington, when he was married to Miss Josie A. Fronck, whose death occurred June 1, 1901. One son was born of this union, Martin, who is a student here. Mr. Costello was again married on the 22d of October, 1902. his second union being with Miss Marie E. Scales, of Northport, Washington. To them four children have been born, Jacques, Julia A., Norman A. and Paul.
Mr. Costello is a prominent member of the republican party and has served as mayor of Northport for one year and was also a member of the council for one year. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the El Katif Temple of the Mystic Shrinc. For two years he acted as master of the blue lodge. He also holds membership in the Inland Club. In fraternal circles and in business relations Mr. Costello is looked upon as a man of marked ability, integrity and conscientious re- gard for the rights and opinions of his associates.
EUGENE WILLIAM DOWNEN.
Eugene William Downen, who has been engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in Pullman for over twenty years, during which period he has been success- fully identified with various other local activities, was born in Illinois on the 11th of March, 1860, his parents being William R. and Martha (Carroll) Downen. The father was a native of Indiana and a son of Johnson Downen of Kentucky, while the mother was born and reared in Pennsylvania, as was likewise her father, Daniel Carroll, who belonged to the family of Revolutionary fame bearing that name.
Eugene William Downen pursued his education in the common schools of his na- tive state until he had attained the age of sixteen years, when he went to Colorado to reside with an uncle. Thomas J. Downen, who was commander for the Grand Army of the Republic for the department of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. There he continued his studies in the country schools and also at home for four years, at the end of which time he returned to Illinois. Very soon thereafter, he went to Quincy to take a commercial course in the Gem City Business College, but owing to the state of his health was shortly compelled to give this up and return to Colorado. In 1883. he resumed his business course in the college at Quincy, completing his studies early the following year. In April, 1884. he came to Whitman county, locating at Pull- inan, where he subsequently entered the employ of Kingman & Farris, a well known hardware firm of that period, in the capacity of bookkeeper. He continued with them until the following winter, when he resigned to enter upon his duties as justice
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of the peace, to which offiee he had been elected in November, 1884. He discharged the duties of this office with efficiency until the 12th of December, 1885, when he was advised of his appointment to the position of postmaster by President Cleveland. Almost immediately thereafter he assumed the responsibilities of this offiee, which he resigned four years later when the republicans again eame into power, recommend- ing a member of the other party for his successor, who was successful in getting appointment. His service was very satisfactory to the community at large and has always been distinguished by the fact that during his term the money order system was introdneed herc. Mr. Downen early recognized the wonderful business opportunities that were afforded here and realized that their development and permanency were assured because of the country's rich natural re- sources. In 1884, he became associated with A. A. Miller in the establishment of a mercantile business which was operated until 1890 under the firm name of Downen, Miller & Company. At that time this section of the country was very largely used for ranging purposes, and while he was postmaster Mr. Downen made his first ven- ture in the cattle business with which he has ever since been identified. It was in this connection that he became interested in the raising of alfalfa, of which he was the first successful grower in the county. In 1889, he and Mr. Miller extended the scope of their activities by the organization of a real-estate and insurance business, that they condueted under the name of E. W. Downen & Company. After the Pull- man fire in 1890, however, they dissolved partnership, and Mr. Downen has ever since been conducting his real-estate and insurance business under his name alone. He has met with very good success in his various undertakings and has been identified with various local enterprises. having been a stoekholder and director of the First National Bank of this city from 1890 to 1893.
Pullman was the scene of the marriage of Mr. Downen on the 18th of Septem- ber. 1887, to Miss Lulu Laney, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Edwin and Nancy J. Laney, the father originally from Ohio, and the mother from Kentucky. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Downen: Jessie E .. who married W. A. Knowles, of Spokane, by whom she has had one son; and Daniel Carroll, who was born in 1890, a resident of this city.
Mr. Downen is one of the worthy exemplars of the Masonic fraternity and has the distinction of having been the first member initiated in Whitman Lodge, No. 49, A. F. & A. M., of Pullman, of which he was at one time secretary, and he also be- longs to Crescent Chapter, No. 31, R. A. M. He is one of the active and enthusiastic members of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce and gives his hearty cooperation to its various undertakings. His political support is accorded to the candidates of the re- publican party, save at municipal elections when he casts his ballot for the men he deems best qualified for the office. Mr. Downen is one of the foremost men of the town, and is held in high respect not only by his associates but by all who have had dealings with him.
DAVID ALFRED ANGUS, M. D.
Dr. David Alfred Angus, the present mayor of Rosalia, who has been engaged in the practice of medieine in Whitman county for the past six years, is a native of Wisconsin and a son of Robert and Margaret (Wilson) Angus, who were born in Scotland.
D. A. ANGUS
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ALMANY
it
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The carly years of Dr. Angus were not distinguished by any unusual occurrence or startling incident, but were passed in the uneventful manner characteristic of life in the more sparsely settled communities. At the usual age he entered the com- mon schools, completing his preliminary education in the Wayland Academy. Hay- ing decided to adopt a professional career, he subsequently matriculated at the Rush Medical College. Chicago, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1896. Very soon thereafter he established an office in Chicago that he main- tained until 1904, succeeding in building up a very fair practice. In that year he took a post-graduate course and in 1905 came to Whitman county, locating in Ro- salia, where he has ever since been engaged in practice. During the period of his residence here. Dr. Angus has had ample opportunity to manifest his skill as both a general practitioner and surgeon and has become recognized as one of the able physicians of the town.
Dr. Angus is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, having attained the rank of a thirty-two degree member of the Scottish Rite, is affiliated with the Orien- tal Consistory of Chicago and also belongs to the Shrine. He likewise holds mem- bership in the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, while his connection with or- ganizations of a more purely social nature is confined to the Inland Club of Spo- kane. He has always had the most implicit faith in the future of the northwest and is an enthusiastic member of the Rosalia Chamber of Commerce, and was formerly vice president of this organization. The political support of Dr. Angus is given to the republican party. and in 1911 he was called to the highest office in the gift of the municipality of which he is still the incumbent. He has proven a very capable executive, discharging his duties with a fine. appreciation of public obligation. A man of progressive ideas, he is interested in promoting the various public utilities and is always ready to give his unqualified support to every movement that he feels will benefit the community or tend to advance the standards of citizenship.
ROBERT C. ALEXANDER.
Robert C. Alexander, who is residing at Loon Lake, Washington, was born in Randolph county, Hlinois, on October 28, 1868, his parents being William R. and Jane ( Dickey) Alexander. The father died in 1901 and the mother passed away two years later. When Robert C. Alexander was but a youth his parents removed to Colorado, and in the public schools of Loveland, a town near Denver, he acquired his education. Forced by unpreventable circumstances to leave school while very young he started to work at an early age for a lumber company, remaining in their employ for two years. After giving up this position he went to Bonners Ferry, Idaho. for a year's residence and then returned to Colorado for another year. He then came to Loon Lake and has since been in the employ of the Holland-Hoor Lumber Company as planer. In addition to his regular employment he also mani- fests considerable interest and retains the management of eighty acres of farm land in Colorado of which he is the owner. He has met with success in his undertakings because of his energy, the necessary qualification for a successful carcer in the west.
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