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

JACOB FURTH, cashier and manager of the Puget Sound National Bank, and one of
the most able financiers of Seattle, was born in Bohemia, province of Austria,
in November, 1840. His education was chiefly acquired in the activities of life,
as at the age of thirteen years he was sent to Buda-Pesth to learn the trade of
confectioner, and when seventeen years of age he started for the United States,
traveling direct to California, where his brother, S. Furth, was then located.
On arrival, Jacob went to Nevada City and spent six months in the public school,
learning the English language; then as clerk entered the clothing store of Block
& Co., and there remained until 1863, securing a practical education in business
requirements. In 1863 the store was destroyed by fire, and subject found
occupation in a general merchandise store at Shingle Springs, El Dorado county,
up to 1868, when he went to North San Juan and became a member of the mercantile
firm of Harris & Co. Shortly after they established a branch house at Colusa,
and conducted a very successful business up to 1876; then Mr. Furth purchased
the entire interest, and continued the same until 1883, when he sold out and
retired from mercantile life. He then removed to Seattle and organized the Puget
Sound National Bank, with a capital of $50,000. Business commenced on August 1,
1883, with Bailey Gatzert, president, and Jacob Furth, cashier and active
manager. February 1, 1889, the capital was increased to $150,000, and February
1, 1891, to $300,000, with a surplus at this time (October, 1892) of $95,000. At
the end of the first calendar year their deposits amounted to $89,000; at the
end of ninth, $l,545,000. While this bank has engaged the active attention of
Mr. Furth, he has also been enlisted in furthering other enterprises, in 1887 he
was one of the organizers and is still the president of the First National Bank
of Snohomish, with a capital of $50,000. He also assisted in the organization of
and is still connected with the management of the First National Bank of
Whatcom: capital $50,000; the Ellensburg National Bank: capital $50,000; the
People's Savings Bank, of Seattle: capital $100,000; the Bank of Montezuma,
Chehalis county: capital $75,000; the Scandinavian American Bank, of Seattle:
capital $75,000; and was one of the moving spirits in organizing the Seattle
Clearing-House Association in 1889, and has continued in the office of
president. He is also a stockholder and director in the Front Street Electric
Railroad, the Madison street cable line, and the Second street electric system.
He is president of the California Land and Stock Company, with a capital of
$300,000. They own 13,000 acres of land in Lincoln county, Washington, and are
engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. Furth was married in Shingle Springs,
California, in 1865, to Miss L. A. Dunton, of Indiana. Three children have
blessed the Union: Jennie E., wife of E.L. Terry; Anna W. and Sidonie E.
Socially, Mr. Furth affiliates with the Masonic order. He has taken no active
part in polities, as business interests have occupied the best efforts of his
life, he owns valuable property in the city of Seattle, and has recently
completed a handsome residence on the corner of Ninth and Terrace streets. Such
is a brief Synopsis of the life of one of Seattle's successful financiers, one
who by personal effort has overcome many obstacles, and, by maintaining a fixed
purpose, has received a well-merited reward.

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

* * * *

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.