now resides in San Francisco, where he is occupying a position as advertising agent for the Out West Magazine. Francis Stocking obtained his education in Brooklyn, New York, and became a carpenter, contractor and builder. In the year 1849 he went to California, attracted by the discovery of gold, journeying by way of the Isthmus route. He had the usual experiences of the California pioneer, enduring many hardships and difficulties, meeting with some success, and in 1860 he came to Washington, locating at Gray's Harbor. The following year he was married there to Miss Eliza James, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Samuel James, whose birth occurred in England. They removed to Olympia in 1867 and there the father continued in business until his death, which occurred in 1869. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Methodist church, and he endorsed the men and measures of the Republican party by his ballot, but he was never a politician in the sense of office-seeking. While residing in Olympia he was one of the builders of the Masonic hall. His life was honorable, because he was ever honest in all his dealings with his fellow-men and reliable in matters of citizenship. In the family were three children, two of whom are living, George C., a resident of Seattle, where he is engaged in business as a civil engineer. For her second husband the mother chose R. A. Brewer, of Thurston county. Fred W. Stocking, named in honor of his father's twin brother, was educated in the high schools and in the Olympia University, being a graduate with the class of 1888. He afterward turned his attention to merchandising in Centralia, Washington, where he remained for three years, and then sold his business there in order to purchase a ranch at Grand Mound. When twenty-one years of age he became deputy assessor of Thurston county, which office he held for eight years, and was elected and served for two terms in the state legislature, during which service he took an active and effective part in securing the construction of the state capitol in Olympia. He was on the committees of revenue taxation and roads, and made a creditable record in the general essembly, leaving the impress of his individuality upon much of the important legislation enacted during his term of office. On the 8th of May, 1902, he was appointed by President Roosevelt to the position of registrar in the United States land office in Olympia and is now acceptably serving in that capacity. In 1890 Mr. Stocking was united in marriage to Miss Alma Manning, a native of St. Johns, New Brunswick, and a daughter of Alfred Manning. Their union has been blessed with two children, Frank and Helen, both of whom are in school. Mr. Stocking is a member of the Methodist church and is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. His wife belongs to the Baptist church, and both are highly esteemed in Olympia. Mr. Stocking does not depend entirely upon the revenues of his office for his financial resources, as he owns a valuable stock ranch of six hundred acres, upon which he is raising both Jersey and Poll Angus cattle. He also deals in stock and is successful in that business. He possesses the requisites of a successful business career, including keen foresight, capable management and perseverence. In his official life he is to be commended because he has been prompt and faithful in the execution of his duties, placing the good of the public before personal aggrandizement. E. N. TUNIN. On the Main street of Olympia and in the center of the busy life of that city stands the Olympia Hotel, leased and conducted by Mr. Tunin, one of the oldest and most successful hotel managers in the state of Washington. This hotel is one of the largest and best equipped hostelries in the state, a credit to its builders and one of the superior attractions of the capital city, affording quarters such as one can hardly find in Seattle or Tacoma. Standing on a slight rise of ground and overlooking the bay and the beautiful surrounding country, the artistic lines of the structure are in themselves an architectural ornament, while the interior, which is the part most regarded by the critical traveler, is characterized by spacious elegance and the utmost regard for the comfort of the guests. It is situated on Main street only a short distance from the Capitol building, and not too far from the business center. Its wide porches on the front and side and balconies above afford a superb opportunity to view the wonderful scenery, to get a comprehensive idea of the size and lay of the city, and to seize with one sweeping glance the beauties of the panorama outspread, and hold them for one's own. Sea and sky and mountains all unite to form a surpassing vista of loveliness. The hotel is usually filled with the many who come to the capital city to transact business; the street car line also passes directly in front. On the first floor is a grand hallway, topped with a roof of stained glass; in this hall is the large office, with entrances to the elevator, the stairway, the dining room and the parlors. The parlors are on the first floor, and the large ballroom. In the basement are the bath rooms, barber shop, trunk rooms, sample rooms, wine cellar and a billiard room. Also the engines and dynamo for heating and lighting. The sleeping rooms on the upper floors are all large and exceedingly well lighted, connected by wide corridors and supplied with every convenience necessary to the comfort of the traveler. The rooms are furnished with all conveniences for the business public and those who desire luxury, and, in fact, the entire building seems to have been designed by a master hand. Mr. Tunin has been in the business for twelve years, and in his quiet and unostentatious way shows the guests every consideration, so that all the employes seem to strive to outstrip each other in their efforts to afford the best entertainment. The hotel has a capacity of one hundred and fifty guests, and undoubtedly stands in the front rank of the many establishments catering to the wants of the American traveling public. E. N. Tunin claims the state of Indiana as the place of his nativity, having been born there on the 25th of November, 1867. He is the son of Woodford and Mary Jane (Walton) Tunin, the latter deceased and the former living in Indiana. There are five brothers and three sisters living, but E. N. is the only one in Washington. Mr. Tunin made his arrival in Washington in 1888 and worked at various occupations. He leased the Olympia Hotel in September, 1899. In 1897 he married Miss May Munn, a daughter of John Munn, of Olympia, but now deceased. She is a native of Olympia and is a most charming lady, well fitted to help her husband in making the Olympia Hotel one of a most enviable reputation. ARCHIE M. BANKS. On the roster of Pierce county's officers appears the name of Archie M. Banks in connection with the position of clerk. This is an indication of his popularity and prominence, and all who know him willingly accord him a leading place among the esteemed citizens of the community. He was born at Clayton, New York, in 1856, and is a son of John and Margaret (Spence) Banks. The father, who was a native of Massachusetts, there learned the trade of a miller, which continued to be his occupation throughout his active business career. In 1861 he removed with his family from Clayton, New York, to Brooklyn, where he enlisted for service in the Civil war, but a year later, in 1862, he was called upon to lay down his life on the altar of his country, having been killed in battle. His wife, who also claimed Massachusetts as the state of her nativity, died in Brooklyn in 1887. Archie M. Banks accompanied his parents on their removal to Brooklyn when he was seven years old, but ten years later, when he had reached the age of seventeen years, he left the parental home and made his way to Chicago, Illinois, there remaining during the following fourteen years, and much of that period was spent in the brokerage business with the firm of Thompson & Company. About 1885 he became interested in the rising northwest, and, removing to Moorhead, Minnesota, was there engaged in contracting until 1889. In March of that year he came to Tacoma, Washington, and during the first two years resided in the city, after which he secured a homestead two miles from Lake View in Pierce county and nine miles from Tacoma, where he made a specialty of dairying and the stock business, becoming successful and prosperous in those lines of industry, and he also did an extensive shipping business. In 1902 Mr. Banks was the choice of the Republican party for the office of county clerk, to which position he was elected in the following November by a large majority, and previous to this he had served two years as deputy county clerk under Robert P. Rigney, so that when he assumed control of the office on January 12, 1903, he was fully equipped for the duties incumbent upon him. In the fall of 1902 he disposed of his farm near Lake View and moved to Tacoma, where he now resides at 1401 North Prospect avenue. In 1887 Mr. Banks was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia Storla, and they have four children, Thomas, Helen Cornelia, Alfred and Archie. Mr. Banks has the reputation of being an excellent business man, and in politics gives an unwavering support to the Republican party. He enjoys the regard of his fellow-men, and is very widely and favorably known in Tacoma and Pierce county. SAMUEL DAVIS BREAR. As will be seen in the course of this brief biography, a member of each of three generations of the Brear family has had the genius of mechanics implanted in him, and has been concerned in the working of iron and its products in different departments of that vast and wide-spread industry. Abel Brear, the father of Samuel Davis Brear, was a native of Wilmington, Dela |