Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 81

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992

USA > Washington > Chelan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 81
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 81
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 81
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 81

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state constitutional convention as a representa- tive from Stevens and a part of Spokane coun- ties. This convention framed the constitution for the state to come.

Since coming to Republic, he has been a leading spirit in the development and upbuild- ing of this section. He is county physician, coroner, and president of the board of health of Republic. He has been appointed local sur- geon for the Great Northern, and is United States pension examiner. He has equipped the Manley hospital and has always been a firm be- liever in Republic and her mining industries and resources. He has large mining and other property interests and is handling the largest medical practice in the county.

In 1887, Dr. Manley married Miss Florence Gotel, the daughter of James Gotel, one of the founders of Saginaw, Michigan, and a promin- ent business man and social leader there. He died many years since. Mrs. Manley's mother was, before her marriage, Miss Marie Tibbitts. She is now dwelling in Colorado Springs, aged eighty-six. Mrs. Manley had two sisters, Mrs. Ida Cooper, of Colorado Springs, and Allie, de- ceased. To Dr. Manley and his wife eight chil- dren have been born, four of whom died in in- fancy. The others, three charming daughters and a bright son, are named as follows, Flor- ence Alene, Ida Cooper, Bessie Beryl, and John Everett.

Dr. Manley is a stanch Democrat, and fra- ternally is affiliated with the Masons, in the Royal Arch degree, and the K. of P. He also belongs to the State Medical Society. The family attend the Episcopal church.

JOHN A. DODSON is one of the younger business men of Republic, and has shown him- self genial, upright, and obliging, and is of good standing in the community. He was born in Sedgwick county, Kansas, on March 6, 1876, being the son of Charles F. and Elizabeth (Fry) Dodson, natives of the Shenandoah valley, Vir- ginia, who came to Kansas in early days and now reside in Sedgwick City. They are the par- ents of seven children. William, Thomas R., Edward I., Ella E., John A., Cora, and Bertha M. Our subject was educated in his native place, and at the age of fifteen, started in life for himself. After working two years on a

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farm, he went to Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and there learned the barber business in the employ of his brother Thomas R. In 1896, he came to British Columbia, and worked at his trade for two years, then he came down to Republic and opened an establishment, which he has operated since that time. Mr. Dodson owns a comfort- able residence, his shop, and other town prop- erty. He does a good business, and has pros- pered since coming to Republic.

On September 20, 1900, Mr. Dodson mar- ried Miss Lulu M. D., daughter of George and Sarah (Prouty) Staves, natives of Iowa. The father has lived in nearly all the western states, and was in Stevens county in the 'sixties, re- turning again to the east. In 1890, he came to Stevens county again, and is now living just east of Colville. Mrs. Dodson has three sisters, Grace O., Lillian E., and Nora F. The an- cestors of our subject and his wife are promi- nent and well-to-do people. Politically, Mr. Dodson is liberal, and fraternally, he is affiliated with the Eagles.

WILLIAM COMPTON BROWN. The subject of this sketch is a native of Minnesota, in which state he always lived until coming to the Pacific coast in 1897. The city of Roches- ter, in Olmsted county, is the place of his birth, and the date thereof February 15, 1869, at which place his parents have resided many years, and he is their only surviving son. His father, who also bears the given name of Will- iam, is a Canadian by birth, of Scotch parent- age. Together with our subject's mother, he is spending the autumn of life at their home in Rochester, Minnesota.

Our subject grew up to early manhood in the city and county of his birth and received his education entirely at the public schools thereof, with the exception of a short course in a local business college and part of one year spent at school in Cleveland, Ohio. At the age of eight- een he began the study of law, and pursued his studies in various law offices in his native city during the next two ensuing years, devoting, however, the greater portion of his time during the same period to newspaper reporting and corresponding, for which he had a natural lik- ing, and at times was undecided whether to fit himself for the profession of law or for that

of journalism. He finally made his choice for the former, entered the law college of the Uni- versity of Minnesota at Minneapolis and grad- uated therefrom in May, 1891. Immediately upon receiving his degree from that institution and being admitted thereon to the bar of the state, he went to Stephen, in Marshall county, Minnesota, and opened a law office at that place in June, 1891, and practiced there during the subsequent six years. Shortly after locating at Stephen, he became associated in business at that place with Greeley E. Carr, which law partnership, under the firm name of Brown & Carr, continued until Mr. Brown departed from the state in 1897, and the firm enjoyed a large and lucrative law business in that section throughout the term of its existence. Our sub- ject was elected county attorney of Marshall county in 1892 and served two successive terms, which extended up to the end of the year 1896. In 1897 he came west on a pleasure trip, visit- ing extensively through the southwestern states and territories and in Old Mexico, and traveled throughout the Pacific coast states. His obser- vations during this tour induced him to decide to change his location and upon his return to Minnesota he discontinued his business relations there, but before settling in a new field the great rush of 1897-98 to the Klondike came on and Mr. Brown, becoming imbued with its spirit, went north with the tide of that famous stam- pede, going in by the Skagway route, and the year 1898 was spent in Dawson and the sur- rounding region and at other Yukon river points. Fortune failed, however, to favor him in the far north, and at the close of the year he decided to return to the states. While at St. Michael's on the way out he heard reports of new placer discoveries being made up the coast. These in fact were the initial strikes around Cape Nome, but as the reports were vague and indefinite, and, as unreliable rumors of new finds were rife everywhere in that coun- try, he took steamer for Puget Sound without realizing what he was passing by. After re- turning from Alaska he first spent a few months in Seattle with a view of establishing himself there, but upon the passage of the bill by the state legislature creating the new county of Ferry he decided to locate in Republic, which place had been made the county seat of the new county of Ferry, and was then enjoying a great boom and looked upon as having excellent pros-

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pects of speedily becoming one of the greatest mining towns on the Pacific slope. He opened a law office in Republic in March, 1899, and has been carrying on the practice of his profes- sion there at all times since.

Our subject was married in April, 1901, at Spokane, Washington, to Miss Sidney, only daughter of Andrew F. Burleigh, the well- known lawyer and politician, who a few years ago was a man of great influence in the affairs of this state, and was receiver of the Northern Pacific railway during that road's financial diffi- culties in the middle 'nineties, and who is now practicing law in New York city.

Mr. Brown cast his first vote in 1892, and prior to 1896 was an upholder of Democratic principles, but declined to follow that party upon the new alignment of issues brought about by the free silver campaign of 1896, and since that time has affiliated with the Republicans and has now for a number of years been prom- inent in the councils of that party. In 1900 he was nominated by that party for the office of prosecuting attorney of Ferry county but was defeated at the polls, to- gether with all the rest of the Repub- lican county ticket, save one candidate alone, the county being at that time overwhelmingly Democratic. In 1902 the same party again placed him in nomination for the same position and he was elected to the office by a good ma- jority and is the present incumbent thereof. His election in 1902 speaks very well for him as the county was still at that time strictly Democratic.

Mr. Brown is rated as a careful and upright lawyer of first-class ability, and is a good and useful citizen, ever ready with his efforts and his talents to assist and further any and all enterprises for the public benefit and advance- ment. He is a leading man in this section and looked upon as a young person for whom the future holds bright prospects.

N. J. H. FORTMAN, a civil engineer of considerable experience throughout the northi- west who has shown himself very capable in his profession, is now surveyor of Ferry county. He also does mining engineering.

He was born in New York, on January 14, 1838. His parents, J. C. H. and A. E. (Deve-

ly) Fortman, were natives of Holland, who came to America and located in New York state, where they remained the rest of their lives. The father was professor of languages and they were the parents of three children, Nathaniel, deceased, N. J. H., and Anna Kuy- per. Our subject was educated in the state of New York, and when sixteen entered the naval college. After his graduation from this insti- tution, he went to sea for practical experience, and followed this for a number of years, visit- ing nearly every part of the globe. In 1856, he was shipwrecked on the south coast of the Island of Java. During the last two years he served at sea, he was an officer. In 1859, Mr. Fortman came to California and took up min- ing, and one year later we find him on Puget Sound. There being very little work in civil engineering, he turned his attention to farming, which occupied him until 1873. For six years after, he was very active in pursuing the higher intricacies of civil engineering, fitting himself for every kind of work. For a number of years, he was surveyor at Port Townsend, and later entered the employ of the Puget Sound Iron Company as their leading agent and engineer. In due course of time, Mr. Fortman took up real estate business and dealt in land during the boom days at Port Townsend. He came to where Republic now stands, but before the town was started, and here he has remained snice. He has done a great deal of excellent work throughout the county and the adjoining country. In political matters, Mr. Fortman is a Democrat, and his party named him for sur- veyor, and he won the day against Thomas M. Hammond. In former years, Mr. Fortman has been quite active in political matters and has served in many official positions. Fraternally, he is connected with the Red Men.

WILLIAM B. WAKEFIELD, who is now living in Republic, was one of the pioneers of Okanogan county as well as of Republic. He was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, on April 9, 1847, being the son of W. C. and Jeannette (Smith) Wakefield, natives of Connecticut. They lived in Litchfield until the mother's death in 1860. Eight years later, the father came to San Francisco county, California, and is now living in Contra Costa county, California.

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They were the parents of nine children, George, Mariah, W. B., who is our subject, Ira, Robert, Louise, Anna, Gertrude, and Orin. During the Civil war the father of our subject enlisted in the Thirteenth Connecticut Infantry under Gen- eral Butler and served nine months. After this, he re-enlisted in Company D, Second Cavalry, and served until the end of the war. Our sub- ject was educated in the common schools, and when thirteen began to assume life's responsi- bilities for himself, his first employment being in a scythe manufacturing house. For three years he continued in this, then came to Cali- fornia with his father, and engaged in a gov- ernment surveying party, which occupied him for about four years. After this, he was en- gaged in railroad engineering, having charge of construction work on the California Southern railroad. He followed the same occupation in Oregon, and finally came to Seattle, where he was baggage master for the O. R. & N., and later was store keeper in the construction de- partment of the N. P., his headquarters being at Green River, Washington. After this we see him in North Yakima in a store, whence he went to Clallam and opened a merchandise es- tablishment for himself, having Mr. Tiliman as partner. A year later he sold his business to his partner, and came to Okanogan county, opening a store in 1888. He was located at Conconully and did a good business until 1894, when his shop burned down. Then he started a livery business there and conducted a stage and was occupied in this line until two years ago. He was appointed city marshal March 1, 1904, by Mayor Stewart. Mr. Wakefield is a good stanch Republican and in fraternal matters is a member of the K. of P.

CHARLES P. BENNETT is city attorney for Republic, in addition to which he has a gen- eral practice in law, well merited by the ability which he has manifested in this realm for many years past. He is a man of deep erudition, hav- ing been well fortified by careful and painstak- ing study in both literary and local lines. He was born in Sterling. Pennsylvania, on Septem- ber 18, 1862, being the son of John P. and Mar- garet (Madden) Bennett, natives of Wayne, Pennsylvania. The father enlisted in the Sixty- seventh Volunteer Infantry at the beginning of the war, and served to the end of the conflict.

His death occurred in 1867, from an illness con- tracted during his service. His widow still re- sides at Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. To this worthy couple, five children were born, J. Frank, William, Eugene S., B. L., Charles P., the subject of this article. The paternal great-grandsire of our subject was one of the very first to settle in that part of Pennsylvania, emigrating from Connecticut with others in 1777. The common school furnished the early educational training of our subject, after which he attended the collegiate institute at Fort Ed- wards, New York. After this he matriculated at Cornell University at Ithaca, New York, and graduated in 1889, receiving degree of LL. B. Then he went to New York city and took a thorough course in the science of law under Blair & Rudol, of New York city.

Mr. Bennett located in Tacoma and was ad- mitted to the bar in the state of Washington in 1890, after which he opened a law office and commenced practice. He held a good practice in that city until March, 1899, when he came to Republic and opened an office. Since that time he has been very active in his profession and has been favored with a large clientage. Mr. Ben- nett is a Democrat, and takes a keen interest in politics. In 1902 his name appeared on the independent ticket as city attorney for Repub- lic, and he gained the day by a large majority. In this capacity, we find him at the present time. Mr. Bennett is a man possessed of a high sense of honor, and has shown himself a master in his profession. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the K. of P. and the Eagles.

FRED RAGSDALE. Three miles north- west from Republic, lies the homestead of the subject of this article, which was taken shortly before the reservation was thrown open for agricultural purposes. In addition to operating his farm, Mr. Ragsdale is conducting a black- smith shop at the Trade Dollar mine, where he has worked for two years. He is a man of good standing. He labors industriously for his neighbors and for the upbuilding of the country and is considered one of the prosperous men of the county.

Fred Ragsdale was born in Jackson county. Oregon, on December 12, 1866, being the son of W. P. and Mary ( Eccleston) Ragsdale. natives of Kentucky. The parents crossed the

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plains in very early days to Oregon. Later, in 1873, they came to Whitman county, where the family home was for twenty years. After this they removed to Stevens county and the home is now in Fruitland. The mother died in 1900. They were the parents of five children, three of whom are now living, Willard A., Fred, our subject, and Emma Bernard. Our subject re- ceived his education in the Palouse country, and when fifteen started out in life for himself. He learned the printer's trade at Walla Walla, and after spending two years in this occupation, came to Colville in 1881. He operated there until 1900, when he removed to Republic, tak- ing a homestead as stated above, and also oper- ated a blacksmith shop. The trade of black- smithing he had learned in younger days.

In 1888 Mr. Ragsdale married Miss Sarah N., daughter of Richard A. and Esther ( Mor- mon) Prouty, natives of Ohio and Michigan, respectively. They settled in Iowa as pioneers, and in 1877 went to Missouri, whence one year later they journeyed to Kansas. After that we find him in Fort Custer, Montana, then in Stillwater, the same state. In 1880 they came to Colville, where the father died in 1903. The mother is still living and resides four miles east of Colville on the old homestead. They were the parents of nine children named as follows : Nancy J., Charles H., George F., James A., Rachel A., Mary M., Sarah 'N., Annie M., and Jessie B. Of the former marriage the fa- ther had four children, two of whom are living, James W. and Cecelia Fallon. To Mr. and Mrs. Ragsdale three children have been born, Otto A., Edna and Leo. Mr. Ragsdale is an enterprising citizen and is always keenly inter- ested in the various questions of the day, both in political matters and others that pertain to the welfare and upbuilding of Ferry county.

BEN F. KECK is a well known business man in northern Washington, having business interests as well as valuable residence and busi- ness property in both Okanogan and Ferry counties. He is at present engaged in the man- · ufacture of brick in partnership with Mr. Harry Bird, the firm being Keck & Bird. He and Mr. Mason started the first brick kiln in Ferry county, which he has kept in operation ever since, and is now turning out a large number of first-class brick. This has assisted materially in

the substantial upbuilding of Republic, where the industry is located, and Mr. Keck is to be commended as the pioner manufacturer of Re- public.

Ben F. Keck was born near Mechanics- burg, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, on November 10, 1865, being the son of Henry and Margaret Keck, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1877, the family located in Iowa, where the father died aged fifty-three years. The mother is still living in Odebolt, Iowa. Our subject was next to the youngest of six children, named as follows, Charles E., Albert L., Martin L., Elmer E., B. F. and Harry E. His father served throughout the Civil war as First Lieu- tenant, being a volunteer from Pennsylvania. Our subject received a good common school education, and at the age of seventeen went to the Black Hills, South Dakota. That was in 1882, and from then until 1889, he was engaged in freighting and various other business. He then went to Seattle and started in the retail liquor business. Two years later he came to Okanogan county, establishing himself in the same line, and finally changed his place of busi- ness to Loomis. It was in February, 1889, that Mr. Keck came to Republic and entered into partnership with L. H. Mason. They started a brick kiln, and since that time Mr. Keck has given his attention to its successful operation. He owns two blocks in the heart of Republic, besides residence property and various interests in other parts of the state.

Politically, he is an active Democrat, has served on the school board, and is now one of the councilmen of Republic. Mr. Keck is a member of the Red Men and of the Spokane Eagles.

GIDEON J. TOMPKINS is one of the leading business men of Republic, being at the head of a blacksmith business and a large agricultural house. He was born in Kempt- ville, Ontario, on February 20, 1859, the son of Dennis and Ann J. (Carson) Tompkins, natives of Canada. The parents had a family of thirteen children, and remained in Canada until the time of their death. The father was a general contractor and farmer. Our subject received his education in his native place, and at the age of fifteen, came to the United States, and located in Ogdensburg, where he learned

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the blacksmith trade. After following the same for three years, he came west to Minnea- polis, Minnesota, and about 1879 came on to Montana, where he engaged as horse shoer for a stage company, operating from Boseman to Miles City, a distance of three hundred and thirty-five miles, until 1882 when he came to Yellowstone Park. Later, we see him in Minn- eapolis, and in 1888 he left that state and set- tled at Pony, Montana. He still continued at his trade, and two years later came on to the coast. In 1891 we find him on the Market street cable car line in San Francisco, and in 1893 he took a trip to the World's Fair. From there he journeyed to Des Moines, Iowa, and for three years was in the fruit business in that state. Next we see him mining in Colorado, after which he came on to Spokane, and in 1898 settled in Republic. He at once opened a blacksmith shop and in thirty days after the reservation opened, he had ordered a carload of machinery. He sold the first mower, the first binder, the first threshing machine, the first wagon, and the first fanning mill in Ferry county. From that time until the present, Mr. Tompkins has pressed his business with energy and handled it with wisdom, and during the season of 1903, he disposed of over five car- loads of machinery.

Politically, he is a strong Republican, and has served for two years as president of the Mckinley Club. For two years, Mr. Tompkins was councilman of Republic, and he has always been a prominent and influential citizen.

In 1890 Mr. Tompkins married Marguerite Baker, a native of Dayton, Washington. Her parents crossed the plains in 1847. Mr. Tomp- kins is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F., the Eastern Star, and the Rebekahs. His wife also belongs to the last two orders. He is W. M. of the first order.

JOHN M. BEWLEY is a pioneer, not only of Ferry county but also of Stevens county when the first named division was a part of Stevens county. He is well and favorably known in Republic, where he makes his home at the present time, and has a wide acquaint- ance in Oregon.

John M. Bewley was born in Cass county, Missouri, on January 10, 1845, the son of John

W. and Katherine B. ( Ellis) Bewley, natives of Indiana and Tennessee, respectively. In 1847 he crossed the plains with ox teams to Oregon, locating in Oregon City. The father died soon after arriving, and our subject's brother, Crockett W., was killed in the Whitman massacre. His sister was taken prisoner in the same conflict but was rescued three weeks later by volunteers. After this, the mother settled in Yamhill county, remaining until 1864, then removed to Salem, where she died in 1867. The brothers and sisters of our subject are named as follows, C. W., Lorinda E., James F., Linura J., Maranda, Theopolus R., Henry, and John. Mr. Bewley had an uncle, Rev. Anthony Bewley, who was hung by the Rebels in 1864, because of his allegiance to the Union. Our subject received his early education in Yamhill county, Oregon, then graduated from Willamette University in 1866. Following this he practiced dentistry for ten years. De- siring more freedom in life, he went into the stock business, and later took up buying and selling grain. In 1883 he came to Colville and took up surveying, which he had studied dur- ing the earlier part of his life. For nine years he was surveyor of Stevens county. In 1896 he located where Republic now is and located numerous mining claims. Later, he patented the ground now in Mono Addition to Republic, and owns a great portion of it. He also has property in Spokane and other places. Mr. Bewley has been surveyor of Ferry county for four years, and has also been justice of the peace for four years.

Politically, he is a Republican, and very active in the campaigns. In 1870 Mr. Bewley married Miss Maggie E. Dawson, whose pa- rents were natives of Scotland and Kentucky. respectively and crossed the plains in 1845 to McMinnville, Oregon. They were the pa- rents of ten children. Our subject and his wife have four children; Frank W., in Republic; Claude, in Spokane; Bernal, in Sanden, British Columbia; and Maude, married to Willianı Page in Republic.

MICHAEL R. JONES came to where Re- public now stands in 1896, and since that time has been one of the substantial business men of the place. He was born in Dolwyddelan, Car- narvonshire, North Wales. on June 4. 1869, be-

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ing the son of Richard and Katherine ( Prich- ard) Jones, both natives of Wales. The father clied there in 1884 and the mother still lives there, aged seventy. They were the parents of these children, Ellen M., Owen, Margaret M., Richard and John, twins, and the subject of this sketch, Michael R. The first four are still in Wales. The father followed farming. Our subject received his early education in his native place, and at the age of eighteen started in life for himself. He handled sheep and worked in the slate quarries until 1887. In the following year he sold his interests and came to America. He located in Cambria, Wisconsin, and one year later came to Butte, Montana. After a short stay in the "Silver City," he returned to Wisconsin making it his home for seven years, then he came west by the way of Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, and the Santa Fe route through Mexico and Arizona to Sacramento, California. A short time thereafter, we see him in Portland, Oregon, whence he came on to Tacoma, and there worked at his trade. In 1891, he went to Portland and worked at brick- laying for a year and then came to Spokane in 1892. For one year he was engaged in the Echo mill in the metropolis of the Inland Em- pire, then worked for G. B. Dennis for three years. Afterward, he spent a summer in the copper mills at Anaconda, Montana. He jour- neyed thence by six horse team and wagon via the old Mullan road to Conconully, Okanogan county, where he spent some time in the livery business with H. W. Thompson. Later, he sold and came to Toroda, where he was with Mr. Thompson in the mercantile business. As stated before, in 1896, he settled where Republic now is, and for five years there engaged with Lester Sly, a merchant. Later he took up a homestead adjoining Republic, which was sold in 1900. In 1903, he went into partnership with H. W. Thompson in farming, and is en- gaged thus at the present time.

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Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 81

Author: Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History Number of Pages: 992

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992