US Senator. He served in the United States Senate from March 1903 to March 1909 as a representative from Washington state. Born near St. Joseph, he moved to the Pacific Northwest with his parents in 1853, settling in the frontier town of Portland, Oregon. He spent his early years in the cattle business before moving to Lewiston, Idaho following the discovery of gold and silver in the early 1860s, where his interests shifted to mining and packing operations. He operated one of the town's first general stores which also served as a bank for mining prospectors. He was elected as Lewiston's first official mayor in the early 1870s before moving to Walla Walla, Washington where he served as chairman of the Pan American Exposition Commission. In 1873 he established the First National Bank of Walla Walla, and was also involved in a number of regional banking pursuits. He remained active in the banking business until being elected to the United States Senate as a Republican in 1902. As a member of Congress, he served on the Irrigation Committee, the Irrigation and Reclamation Committee, the Commerce Committee, the Coast and Insular Survey Committee, and also served as a committee member for railroads, national banks, coastal defenses, and forest and wildlife preservation and protection. He was also active in sponsoring legislation for the creation of public works projects in the cities of Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane, and irrigation projects in the rural counties of Yakima, Kittitas and Okanogan. Following his government service he returned to Walla Walla, Washington where he resumed his banking interests until his death from stroke related complications at the age of 76.
US Senator. He served in the United States Senate from March 1903 to March 1909 as a representative from Washington state. Born near St. Joseph, he moved to the Pacific Northwest with his parents in 1853, settling in the frontier town of Portland, Oregon. He spent his early years in the cattle business before moving to Lewiston, Idaho following the discovery of gold and silver in the early 1860s, where his interests shifted to mining and packing operations. He operated one of the town's first general stores which also served as a bank for mining prospectors. He was elected as Lewiston's first official mayor in the early 1870s before moving to Walla Walla, Washington where he served as chairman of the Pan American Exposition Commission. In 1873 he established the First National Bank of Walla Walla, and was also involved in a number of regional banking pursuits. He remained active in the banking business until being elected to the United States Senate as a Republican in 1902. As a member of Congress, he served on the Irrigation Committee, the Irrigation and Reclamation Committee, the Commerce Committee, the Coast and Insular Survey Committee, and also served as a committee member for railroads, national banks, coastal defenses, and forest and wildlife preservation and protection. He was also active in sponsoring legislation for the creation of public works projects in the cities of Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane, and irrigation projects in the rural counties of Yakima, Kittitas and Okanogan. Following his government service he returned to Walla Walla, Washington where he resumed his banking interests until his death from stroke related complications at the age of 76.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Ankeny memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
