An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893

JOHN ARTHUR, member of the law firm of Arthur, Lindsay & King, of Seattle, is of
Anglo-Irish descent, born in Ireland, June 20, 1849. While he was attending
school in England his family suffered reverses, and to retrieve their fortune he
emigrated to the United States, in 1861, to improve the opportunities offered by
a free and independent people. Locating in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, he
continued his studies, which had been well founded in the older country, and
subsequently accepted a position as bookkeeper and store clerk for a railroad
contractor. Upon the completion of the work young Arthur entered the service of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company on the Philadelphia & Erie line, and was soon
promoted to a position of trust and responsibility. It had been one of his
youthful ambitions to follow a literary life, until reversed fortune changed his
plans. Subsequently deciding upon a legal profession, he studied law, in Erie,
Pennsylvania, under the preceptorship of Hon. John P. Vincent, ex-Presiding
Judge of the Erie Judicial District. Being an apt student, Mr. Arthur made rapid
progress, and in due course was admitted to the bar. Desiring a higher
education, he removed to Washington, District of Columbia, and entered the law
school of the Columbian University and completed the regular and post-graduate
course of two years each. Upon his graduation, in the second year, as Master of
Laws, he was awarded the first prize of the school in competition for producing
the best essay upon a legal subject. The prize was delivered to him in the
presence of the President of the United States, with his cabinet and the Judges
of the Supreme Court. The presentation was made by the Solicitor-General in
behalf of the Attorney-General, who complimented Mr. Arthur for his able and
scholarly production, and shortly afterward moved that Mr. Arthur be permitted
to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, which was an unusual
mark of favor and interest. During these years of study Mr. Arthur was engaged
on legal work for the Government. Upon resigning his position he was tendered
the United States Attorneyship for New Mexico, which he declined. He entered
upon the practice of law in the city of Washington, and was immediately
successful; meanwhile he became an enthusiast on the Puget Sound country and
resolved to remove to that favored locality. While engaged in Pennsylvania, in
1883, in organizing a colony for Seattle, he was offered the Attorneyship for
the Tacoma Land Company, which he accepted and removed his family to that city.
In April, 1887, he removed to Seattle, where he has since resided, and conducted
an extensive practice in land litigation, to which branch of law he gives
particular attention. In recognition of his ability, in 1888, he was elected
Secretary of the Seattle Bar Association and vice-president of the State Bar
Association, which offices he still holds; and he is also an active member of
the Chamber of Commerce. He was married at Philadelphia, in December, 1880, to
Miss Amy A. Lane, daughter of Honorable William S. Lane, a prominent lawyer of
that city. Their only child died in infancy. Mr. Arthur is prominently connected
with the Masonic order, being a member of the blue lodge, Royal Arch chapter,
and commandery, York rite; also thirty-second degree, Scottish rite, and of the
Mystic Shrine. In politics he is a decided Republican, but is no sense a seeker
for political preferment. He is chairman of King county Republican committee and
President pro tempore of the State Board of University Land and Building
Commissioners, of which the Governor is president ex offico. Mr. Arthur takes an
active interest in public affairs and through his general fund of information is
frequently called upon to address public gatherings. He is a devout believer in
the future greatness of Seattle; and is still imbued with his early impressions
that Washington possesses greater natural advantages than any other State in the
Union.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.