History of King County, Washington
By Clarence B. Bagley in 1929. Now in Public Domain
From Chapter 47: Issaquah, Pages 768-770
Issaquah: First Businesses
Ingebright Wold had conducted a general store on his ranch and done a thriving business with the farmers, miners, and Indians of the surrounding country. In 1881 George W. Tibbetts erected a good-sized store and hotel on his farm and in the following year established a stage line from Newcastle to Squak, and thence to North Bend, operating in connection with the Columbia and Puget Sound Railroad. Following the platting of the town, Tibbetts put up a large two-story building and moved his business into it. This was the first mercantile house in town and was later occupied by the Issaquah Coal Company. William Pickering, appointed in 1870, had been the first postmaster at Squak. Tibbetts took over the post office in 1878 and kept it in his store until 1886. Miss Mattie Bush succeeded him, keeping the office at her father's house. George Parks, was postmaster after Miss Bush, until J. H. Gibson, who still holds the office, was appointed in 1899.
The erection of the first frame house in town is credited to Isaac Cooper, who put up a saloon upon his arrival in 1887. He also dealt in real estate until June, 1899, when he bought the Belleview Hotel which had been built by Thomas and Mary Francis in 1888. Mrs. Francis became the wife of Cooper, who ran the hotel until February, 1902, when it was leased to James Corbett. Another early hostelry, established before 1889, was the Gilman House, opened by William Moore on Front Street, on the site of the State Bank of Issaquah Building. A later rooming house was the Gilman Hotel on the corner of Main and Second streets. The Grand Central Hotel, an unpretentious structure, accommodates travelers today.
In 1888 a group of citizens organized the Issaquah Water Company. The incorporators were George W. Tibbetts, Thomas Rowley, William Moore, and Isaac Cooper. In 1901 the greater part of the stock passed into the hands of A. B. Stewart and Samuel Stempson of Seattle, but Cooper continued as resident manager for several years.
The first bank at Issaquah was established in 1900 under the name of W. W. Sylvester and Company by W. W. Sylvester and his son, Warren C. The younger Sylvester, who now lives in Seattle, was cashier. The Sylvesters did a banking and insurance business in a small wooden structure on the site of the present bank building. Later they replaced it with one of concrete. On April 22, 1913, the business was incorporated as the Issaquah State Bank, with its present capitalization of $25,000, by H. C. Schultz, former manager of the Kirkland State Bank, W. L. Collier, and L. P. Schaeffer, the control of the business having passed to this group from the Sylvesters. The State Bank of Issaquah has since enjoyed a healthy growth. In 1928 the institution reported a surplus and profits totaling $12,600 and deposits aggregating $415,850. Officers were as follows: J. H. Peters, president; J. H. Gibson, vice president; A. J. Peters, cashier; and W. L. Peters, assistant cashier.
Dr. Shoemaker was the first physician at Gilman. Dr. W. E. Gibson first came to Issaquah as Dr. Shoemaker's assistant and finally succeeded to his practice, serving also for about seven years as local physician for the Northern Pacific Railroad. With his brother, J. H. Gibson, the Doctor opened the first drug store. Dr. Gibson was elected Mayor of Gilman in 1890 and subsequently served as councilman.
The Issaquah Independent was established as a weekly on January 1, 1900. George Webster bought it from the original owner, whose name is not available, and in 1907 sold it to A. P. Burrows. David Peacock bought it in 1916 and changed the name to The Issaquah Press. M. A. Boyden is the present owner and editor. The paper is published weekly and claims a circulation of 500.
In August, 1900, a telephone company was organized and on January 1 of the following year there were two subscribers. In 1928 there were 132 telephones. In 1902, John M. Goode, a son-in-law of General Tibbetts, established a livery business which he ran for seven or eight years. Later he erected a service station at the junction of the highways known as Goode's Corners where he is still in business.
Early in the present century I. W. Van Winkle opened Issaquah's Cash Store, dealing in general merchandise. By this time Gibson's drug store was carrying a stock of stationery, books, school supplies, paints, oils, wall paper, and sundries. F. A. Fisher, who had opened an undertaking establishment, by 1909 was also dealing in furniture and draperies, while E. C. Guss, confectioner, in addition to running an ice cream and candy parlor advertised himself as at the public service for tailoring and cleaning and pressing. Fred Stefan established and conducted for many years the Issaquah Steam Laundry.
In 1914 George Wilson Tibbetts, a son of General Tibbetts, opened the first Ford agency at Issaquah, continuing in business until 1919, when he sold out and went to Texas. Upon his return he took the managership of the Motor Sales Company and still holds that position.
The Grange store, which is still in business as The Grange Mercantile Association, was opened by Andrew Wold, a son of Lars Andrew Wold, who served as manager for three and a half years. Wold bought out Tolle Anderson's hardware and feed business, which he still conducts under the name of A. L. Wold & Company.
The Issaquah Creamery Company and the Fox River Butter Company, Incorporated, are today the chief dealers in dairy products at Issaquah. The Washington Co-op Egg and Poultry Association has a branch at Issaquah to take care of the important local poultry and egg business.
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By Clarence B. Bagley in 1929. Now in Public Domain